Diego and Dallas were inseparable. Found together at just 9 weeks old, the rescue Chihuahuas shared an incredible bond. They were each other's real-life version of a comfort blanket.
Then, sadly, Dallas passed away. Diego was devastated. He stopped eating and showed no interest in playtime or walks. His reaction proves that dogs know what love and loss are.
A heartbroken little pooch
Everyone could see how heartbroken Diego was, including his other dog brother, a Golden Retriever called Kodi. Sweet Kodi wanted to make Diego happy again - or at least a little bit less sad.
And the loving and super smart pooch found the perfect way to do it. A few days after Dallas died, the human members of this pack noticed that Kodi was trying to tell them something.
The family has a set of communication buttons to train and communicate with the dogs. And Kodi kept hitting certain buttons in the same sequence.
He pawed the button for Diego, which he hadn't really used before, followed by the toy and scratches button. Then he turned and looked straight at his dog mum, Lisa Laufer.
She finally figured out what Kodi was trying to say. He told his mum that Diego was sad and needed to cheer up with toys or cuddles.
Kodi would then watch, tail wagging, as Mum dished out cuddles to help ease Diego's broken heart. How sweet is that?
A new special friendship
"Kodi wasn't randomly adding the word 'Diego' to his communications — he was wanting Diego to have the stuff that HE (Kodi) loved," said the pair's owner, Lisa Laufer.
Lisa said the pair have become much closer since Dallas passed. And while Kodi would never be able to take Dallas's place, he's helping little Diego form a new bond that will be just as special.
