Bittersweet Tears as Family Gives Their Senior Dog the Perfect Last Day
Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is one of the hardest things a dog parent can face, but what Manolo’s family did for him on his final day was truly extraordinary. Manolo, a sweet and resilient Shih Tzu, entered Coeli Fortun’s life when she was just 14 in Manila, Philippines, as People reports. He had been her constant companion for 15 beautiful years. (Watch Video Below)
Even after she built a new life in Canada with her partner, Sean, Manolo remained her loyal best friend. So when his health began to decline, Coeli made the heartbreaking decision to let him go, but not before giving him the farewell he deserved.
@chellyshoots Didn’t know what to expect from putting up a sign about my dog’s last day on a park bench but I’m so grateful we did it. I have never planned how I would spend the last day I had with my childhood dog but when he got really sick, I always knew that the one thing I’d miss is: sharing the joy he gave me, with others. This was such a perfect way to celebrate the life of a dog who truly loved spending time with people & their dogs. Run free & fast forever, Manolo. I will never stop missing you🤎 Thank you @healthybud @Crumps Naturals @TheTiltedBarnPetCompany ♬ original sound – chellyshoots
A Heartfelt Farewell at Manolo’s Favorite Park
On October 2, the day they knew would be Manolo’s last, his parents brought him to his favorite place — the park. They carried a simple sign that read, “It’s our dog’s last day. Give us some advice and him a treat (we brought lots).”
Some people walked by quietly, while others offered a soft “sorry.” But the ones who stopped made all the difference. They met Manolo and his kids, gave him treats and gentle pets, shared their own stories of losing a beloved pet, and reminded his parents that he’d have plenty of furry friends waiting for him in heaven.
Coeli later posted the moment on TikTok, where it quickly went viral, earning over 4 million views and 850K likes. She shared that the kindness of strangers helped make the heartbreaking goodbye to her soul dog just a little easier.
A user called Rach commented on the video, saying, “His last day was filled with nothing but endless love 😭😭😭😭 IM BAWLING MY EYES OUT”.
Making the Kindest but Hardest Decision
Manolo had been living a happy, comfortable life in Canada with his two loving parents, who brought him over from the Philippines in 2022. But everything changed in February 2025 when the senior Shih Tzu’s health suddenly took a frightening turn. One night, he woke Coeli and her partner with heartbreaking screams. Though he eventually calmed down, the episodes soon became a regular occurrence.
After vet visits, X-rays, and bloodwork, the couple received news no pet parent wants to hear: Manolo was in the early stages of canine dementia. They were devastated, but determined to help him. They started him on dementia supplements, along with treatments for arthritis, hoping to slow the decline.
But despite their efforts, Manolo’s condition worsened. He lost both his vision and hearing, and later developed degenerative myelopathy — a progressive neurological disease that affects the spinal cord and often takes away a dog’s ability to walk.
After months of watching their sweet boy struggle and trying every option available, Coeli and Sean made the heartbreaking decision to let him go peacefully. It wasn’t easy, but they knew it was the kindest choice for Manolo’s quality of life.
In his final week, they made sure he felt nothing but love. They took him to meet friends, introduced him to new people, and spoiled him with all his favorite treats. And in those moments, they could tell, Manolo finally seemed calm, cherished, and ready to rest.
Pet rescue advocate and YouTuber Rocky Kanaka remarks, “When a dog has given you years of unwavering love, the kindest farewell becomes one of honour. Manolo reminds us that every pet deserves their final walk to be filled with joy and dignity.”
