A Veteran And His Loyal Dog Passed Away Within Hours Of Each Other

Dogs are widely regarded as some of the best human companions, which is not surprising.

An unbreakable link exists between a dog and its owner. And when one Air Force veteran-turned-assistant fire chief, Daniel Hove, first received his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, his friends and family were right there to support him – including his 11-year-old lab, Gunner. Hove’s loyal pooch rarely left his owner’s side.

Unfortunately, Hove’s later years were greatly affected by the diagnosis. In spite of the fact that Gunner weighed 90 pounds, there were plenty of photos of the two cuddled up together. He never strayed from Hove’s side. It was clear that they were inseparable.

Heather Nicoletti, Hove’s daughter, said that: “They were best buddies till the end. They were hunting buddies, they went everywhere together.”

Since they did everything together, it was not surprising that Gunner ultimately got sick just as Hove was nearing the end of his life.

Nicoletti recalled her father and Gunner being very in sync, with both of them getting sick together.

She said, “My dad was unresponsive, the dog was unresponsive. So once we saw how the dog was doing–he wasn’t moving much anymore, not doing well– we knew, it was coming.”

The day that everyone had been dreading then arrived. The family was aware that it will soon be necessary to let Gunner go and find peace. “I called the vet clinic I used to work at,” she said, “they got me in right away and I rushed him up there, put him to sleep. And about an hour and a half later, my dad was gone too.”

Nicoletti was saddened by the death of her father, but she was at least grateful that her father was spared the loss of his closest friend. Nicoletti believed that the sickness and loss of Hove was what destroyed the dog – since Hove and Gunner could not bear to be away from one another.

“I had said I don’t know what’s going to be more traumatic for him,” she said. “To try to take him away to end–to put him to sleep– to end his suffering, or if you let him live through dad dying. I think either way it’s going to kill him. We knew they were going to go together. We just didn’t know it was going to be hours apart.”

“Gunner could not be without my dad,” Nicoletti added and said. “I think he chose to go with him.”

At least they had each other in their final days. Additionally, the knowledge that they were reunited in paradise must have brought solace to their family.