Latest news with #Yasol
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Woman Travels With Dog for Vacation, Unprepared for the Heartbreak Ahead
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. A woman who traveled across the world with her beloved dog for a vacation and an international competition is mourning his death after he had a tragic fall. Mary Yasol (@maryyasol), 34, founder and CEO of The Chic Beauty & Wellness, brought her toy poodle Mr. Puff with her on a three-month trip to the Philippines to compete in the Miss Universe Philippines beauty pageant. The journey was not only about the competition—it was also a homecoming. Mr. Puff hadn't seen their Filipino family since the pair moved from the Philippines to Miami, Florida, in 2012. "It was a full circle moment at that time with him by my side," Yasol told Newsweek. "But, on May 12, Mother's Day, he accidentally fell off a chair when we were resting together, and the fall caused a devastating injury that led to paralysis and degenerative disc disease," she said. "He was my constant companion through everything, especially during really difficult times when I had no one else," Yasol added. A split image showing Mary resting with her late dog Mr. Puff. A split image showing Mary resting with her late dog Mr. Puff. @maryyasol//@maryyasol/ Mr. Puff had been by Yasol's side since he was just 2 months old. Yasol said that Mr. Puff was "devoted, protective, loyal, and full of charm." She took him everywhere, and he always managed to bring smiles to people's faces. During her early years in America, Mr. Puff was her only comfort and support. "He kept me grounded and safe. I made sure I stayed healthy, came home every night, and avoided trouble because I knew he was always waiting for me. He gave me the strength to rebuild my life in South Florida. I owe so much of my healing, growth, and success to him. He truly was my reason to keep going," Yasol said. She revealed Mr. Puff's death in a now-viral TikTok video that shows the little dog asleep on the plane. Overlay text reads: "I flew him across the world for a vacation and he died." In the caption, she added: "I said let's go on vacation, not heaven." The bittersweet humor left some viewers mistakenly believing he had died on the plane. After his injury, Yasol and Mr. Puff returned to Miami to resume their lives. Though he began showing small signs of improvement, including nerve response to the healing work she was doing, his overall health was quietly deteriorating. "His spirit was unbreakable, and he was so motivated to get better," she said. But the therapy he would have needed was too intense for his aging body, with no guarantees he would walk or play again. "Every day, it broke my heart to watch him push through pain just to try to recover for me," Yasol said. "He was willing, but I knew deep down that continuing would bring more suffering than healing. I had to be the bigger person and make the most-difficult decision of my life." An image showing Mary cuddling Mr. Puff. An image showing Mary cuddling Mr. Puff. @maryyasol/@maryyasol Once Yasol knew it was time, she arranged a compassionate home euthanasia service. "Before they arrived, I gave Mr. Puff the best last day I could. I made him his favorite meals, gave him ice cream, and surrounded him with all the love I could give. I held him close the entire time, sang and talked to him till he fell asleep. "He passed peacefully, at home, in my arms, wrapped in warmth, comfort, and deep love. It was the most-heartbreaking moment of my life, but it was also my final act of love: to set him free from pain and let him rest." Yasol said grieving Mr. Puff has been deeply emotional. "Losing a pet like Mr. Puff feels like losing a part of your soul," she added. But sharing their story on TikTok has been cathartic. "I've received hundreds of messages from people who saw themselves in our bond. His spirit lives on through those connections." The video, which has earned more than 6.2 million likes and over 44.2 million views, resonated deeply with pet lovers across the world, many of whom shared their own stories in the comments. "Same with my dad! Flew him over to Aus[tralia] to visit my new home and he got diagnosed with terminal cancer and died 9 days later died!!! Vacations are fun!!" wrote a commenter named Randi. "For those wondering, no he did not die on the plane! I stalked her Instagram because I'm a worried pet mom who flies my dogs a lot. Her adorable dog, Mr. puff was 15 years old. She flew him from Miami," added another user. "Do I laugh or cry causeeeee.......... Ok I guess both [be]cause that was a GENIUS," a third commented. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Woman Flew Her Beloved Dog Across the World for a Vacation. Then, He Died (Exclusive)
Mary Yasol's toy poodle, Coco, was affectionately known to everyone as Mr. Puff Yasol and Mr. Puff shared an extraordinary bond — one that grew stronger through every chapter of her life, including when she moved from the Philippines to the United States at age 21 Last year, Yasol, now 33, flew back to Manila to compete in the Miss Universe Philippines pageant, and brought Mr. Puff along. But while there, he suffered a serious health scareMary Yasol's toy poodle, Coco — affectionately known to everyone as Mr. Puff — was quite the jet-setter. The two traveled everywhere together. 'As long as he could fit in my bag and promised to behave, he was allowed to come,' the Miami local tells PEOPLE exclusively. 'He was the best travel buddy anyone could ask for.' "I broke so many rules for him," she adds. "I used to sneak him into places in my handbag. He loved being close to me and never wanted to be left behind. He was such a charming little rebel and always up for an adventure." Yasol and Mr. Puff shared an extraordinary bond, one that grew stronger with every chapter of her life. It deepened even more when she moved from the Philippines to the United States at 21. She couldn't imagine starting a new life abroad without him. 'So my partner at that time agreed, and we made it possible for him to come with me,' she says. What followed was a journey she could never have faced alone. As Yasol navigated the challenges of a new country, Mr. Puff was her only constant, her greatest source of comfort and happiness, especially during a time when her relationship became abusive. After finding the courage to leave, she and Mr. Puff moved to South Florida when she was 26, starting completely from scratch. 'He was my biggest fan and my emotional lifeline," she says. "His presence reminded me to stay focused, to keep going, and to believe I could rebuild. And I did, everything I created, I created with him in mind. We built a beautiful life full of joy, adventure, and love. We truly did it all, together.' So, last year, when Yasol, now 33, decided to fly back to Manila to compete in the Miss Universe Philippines pageant — a journey that would last three months — there was no doubt in her mind that Mr. Puff would be coming along. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. It was meant to be a special time, not just for her career, but for reconnecting with family and sharing the experience with Mr. Puff by her side, as always. But while there, on May 12, 2024, the real estate and beauty entrepreneur and her dog were cozied up together when he accidentally slipped and fell from a chair. It seemed minor at first, but the impact caused devastating injuries. "The fall left him partially paralyzed and triggered a severe degenerative disc disease," she says. "My heart shattered. I never imagined that what started as a joyful trip would mark the beginning of our hardest chapter." "He was 14 turning 15, and although he looked amazing for his age, he had early signs of aging like arthritis and partial deafness," she adds. "I had a gut feeling this would be our last trip together. I couldn't leave him behind, he would've been heartbroken." After the fall, Yasol watched as Mr. Puff's mobility declined rapidly due to age. She tried everything to help him recover — from rehab and energy healing to ocean therapy. While it helped, it wasn't enough. 'We needed more time, and I wasn't ready to give up,' she says. A month after the accident, on June 15, 2024, she made the difficult decision to return to Miami, hoping he could receive better care. It was a complicated journey, as he still couldn't walk. 'Despite the challenges at customs and the 24-hour-long flight, we had to pretend that he was perfectly normal and healthy," she says. "Whenever he cried in pain, I'd hug him tightly to comfort him. He understood we were in it together. He was such a seasoned traveler that he handled it with grace.' But despite her tireless efforts, just nine days after they returned home to Miami, Yasol made the heartbreaking decision to put Mr. Puff down. Since then, she has taken time to grieve. Now, one year later, she opened up about Mr. Puff's story on TikTok. Her video, which she says uses dark humor, has since gone viral, amassing more than 33 million views and 8,000 comments. She says reading through the comments has been emotional, as people shared their own stories of losing their pets. "Sharing the video felt therapeutic," she says. "I never expected it to go viral, but I'm grateful it did — I would like to use this tool to keep his memory alive." "I hope people see that not all sad stories have to end in sadness," she adds. "Sometimes they're filled with love, laughter and resilience too. The bond between a person and their pet runs deep, and through the hardest moments, that love can become a source of strength. I want others to know that healing is possible, that starting over can be empowering, and that even in loss, there's room for joy, growth, and the kind of memories that make you smile through the tears." "I'm deeply grateful for my family and closest friends," she continues. "Their love and support carried me through. And surprisingly, the online community became part of my healing as well." Read the original article on People
