Dog's 'Soulmate' Dies—What She Does Next Breaks Owner's Heart
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Animal lovers' hearts have broken after seeing how a dog reacted after losing her beloved sibling.
Mariah, who posts to TikTok under the username @mariahandgigi, is the owner of Belgian Malinois mix Gigi, and until recently, also had Shih Tzu, Rocky.
Mariah lost senior dog Rocky late in 2024 at age 12, having had him since childhood, and regularly posts videos of him in remembrance—playing, napping, on walks, and playing with his sister, Gigi.
One video, shared May 11, racked up more than half a million views as viewers' hearts broke at what it showed.
At first, the clip showed Rocky and Gigi hanging out together, Gigi relaxing and lying quietly, while Rocky posed on his back and wiggled around, kicking his legs, and a second short clip taken at a different time showed the two dogs in the same position.
But the two final videos showed Gigi, this time on her own, Rocky having passed on. And she lies on her back, rolling and wiggling around, her legs in the air—just like Rocky used to do.
Mariah wrote over the video: "Soulmated so hard your sister absorbed your little quirks as soon as you left," and added in the caption: "We miss our boy."
TikTok users flocked to the video, one writing: "This one's for you, man," and another suggesting Gigi "probably was coping too."
"Someone has to carry on the tradition," another said, as one emotional viewer admitted: "I am sobbing. How absolutely beautiful, their unconditional love is never gone, just a little bit further away till you and your baby reunite again."
And as one wrote: "She wanted to make sure you knew he was still there being silly."
Gigi and Rocky the Shih Tzu, rolling on his back.
Gigi and Rocky the Shih Tzu, rolling on his back.
TikTok @mariahandgigi
Dogs can have many reactions to another pet in the household dying, and could become clingy, anxious or even depressed, according to Dogs Trust.
Owners can help their surviving pet by keeping a close eye on their pet to see how they are coping, including by a pet camera while they're alone in the house. Take time before removing reminders of the other animal—such as beds and blankets—and don't rush into getting another dog.
Going on plenty of walks and sticking to the dog's normal routine can all assist in helping your dog cope with a loss.
Newsweek has contacted @mariahandgigi via TikTok for comment on this story.
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