Hello, beautiful readers,

Today, I’d like to share a very personal post as my family and I mark 30 days since our beloved dog, Coco, passed away. I want to take a moment to honor her memory—Coco Chanel, affectionately known as Coconut.

Since I was born and raised in Israel, I developed a sensitive perspective on life. Experiencing loss and the conflicts of war at a young age taught me that life is very vulnerable, and our world isn’t particularly safe. I discovered that everything I felt secure about could change instantly. The value of our loved ones is the highest of all. So, when people would say to me, “Oh, we lost our dog today, and our hearts are completely shattered,” I initially found it hard to understand. I would respond with, “Yes, I’m so sorry for your loss,” but inwardly, I often thought, “Hey, it’s just a dog.”

However, I’ve come to realize that a dog is truly part of the family. I learned this lesson through my experience with Coco, our first family dog, whom I brought home as a surprise for my beautiful children. She was a part of our lives for almost 14 years. When she suddenly fell ill, it broke my heart to see her struggle.

Fighting for her life was a difficult decision, especially since I was told that I was only putting band-aids on her condition, hoping for just one more day together. After two weeks of back-and-forth trips to the veterinary hospital, sleeping with her every night, holding her in my arms, and doing everything possible to fight for her life, we ultimately had to say our goodbyes. This was just a month ago, and I feel ready to share her story with our loving family, dear friends, and you, my beautiful readers.

“The pain of losing a pet is the price we pay for the joy they bring into our lives.”

This is for you, Coco, so the world knows how special you were and how much you meant to our family. You were one of us—a vital part of our everyday lives, sharing countless memorable moments and helping us create meaningful experiences filled with love, joy, and tears.

Thank you for being our best companion for almost 14 years. You will always remain in our hearts as “The One.” You were our childhood dog, our therapist who listened without judgment. You waited by the window until we returned home safely and happily greeted us, dancing around as if you had just won the lottery. You accompanied me while shopping; people often thought you were a stuffed animal and couldn’t believe you were real. You even dined with us quietly and politely at some fantastic restaurants.

You were a part of everything we did—our daily routine, loving us unconditionally and allowing us to be ourselves without judgment, only love and support. Our house was your kingdom. You slept beside us or on the pillow above Mom’s head, watching over us every night. You jumped for joy during our life celebrations and comforted us with your presence when our hearts ached, spreading love and warmth as we shared our tears.

You always knew when we were about to travel and would try to sneak into our suitcase, hoping we would take you with us. You were full of life, always trying to protect us when strangers approached, despite your tiny size of just seven pounds. You were ready to fight when we caught a big shark, bringing all your “big muscles” to the task. You were funny, loving, and a great listener—never talking back. You even did yoga with Dad and shared those special early morning moments on his lap while he drank his espresso. You spent hours with him as he worked on the computer—his best work was done with you by his side.

Even in your last days, the doctors said you were special—a strong fighter, super healthy, with great teeth and a beautiful soul. Thank you for your time with us and the countless pictures we took during life’s special moments. Thank you, Coco, for helping us grow and standing beside us as we navigated life’s journey. May you rest in peace and watch over us. We hope you are rewarded with a beautiful afterlife for a job well done! You will always be our dog, the one and only—our Coco.

With love,

RBR

“No longer by our side but forever in our hearts”