There is less sunshine in our lives. Paula and I helped our dog Muppy cross the Rainbow Bridge on Tuesday, March 24th, after she courageously battled kidney disease and bladder cancer since June of 2025. She was born in Mississippi on August 6, 2011, and joined our family in Bangor, Maine, on May 1, 2013.
Our day would typically start with a gentle hop against the side of my left leg, Muppy’s golden face looking up at me like a burst of sunshine, saying, “Don, what a beautiful day!”
Muppy was filled with eternal optimism. I am blessed that the “gentle hop” I described above was almost a daily occurrence and will forever be etched in my mind.
Muppy was, and forever will be, my Heart Dog.
What is A “Heart Dog”? It was a term I was unaware of before becoming a pet care professional. I have consulted with many of my training colleagues, as well as three AI chatbots. As expected, there are many similarities in descriptions of a Heart Dog. Still, ultimately, everyone has their own unique definition of the extraordinary relationship they shared with their Heart Dog.
This is why Muppy will forever be my Heart Dog.
• Muppy and I bonded almost instantaneously on our first day together. I gave her space but remained available, and by the end of the day, she chose to hop into my lap for a snooze.
• From that point on, we were together 24/7 almost every day. I was fortunate that my work situation allowed me to do this, as not many people have that luxury. When we weren’t together, we truly missed one another. Paula told me how Muppy would wait by the door or look out my office window, awaiting my return. Since she passed, whenever I come home, I still instinctively expect her to greet me, and even though I cannot see or hear her, I can sense her presence.
• Muppy came to us at a time when we were still mourning the loss of our dog Tikken and cat Batman. I had no expectations for her other than being my friend. She wasn’t here to be a demonstration dog for training classes or a therapy dog. I wanted us to be the best buddies we could be and partners in fun, mischief, and life.
• In the years after Muppy became part of the family, Paula had some serious health issues, and Muppy was there to support both of us. Being empathetic, something I have struggled with for much of my life, was innate to Muppy, and she taught me how to be a better person.
• Joy came easily to Muppy as well as being silly. Early on, we had our friend Debra Bell take regular photos of Muppy and us as a family, and Deb became one of Muppy’s favorite people. At almost every photo session, Muppy showed her mischievous side, which made us all lose our composure and laugh our heads off. Her little pranks only made those sessions more memorable. As shown in the photo above, sometimes I was the prankster. Muppy and I fed off each other, as best friends are prone to do.
• I love to write and, like most writers, sometimes need inspiration. If my mind was blocked, sometimes a sniffari or a snuggle with Muppy was all I needed to get back on track. I know she will continue to inspire me.
• My colleagues disagree as to whether one can have more than one heart dog. But many agree that the passing of a Heart Dog feels like losing a piece of yourself or even your soul. While I mourn Muppy’s physical loss, I feel as though our souls are forever intertwined, and that provides the solace that relieves my grief.
The caricature at the top of my column was created based on my favorite photo of Muppy and me, taken by Debra Bell. It exaggerates our emotions but perfectly expresses how we felt about one another; our relationship was filled with joy.
I’ve had some real low points caring for Muppy through her illness. On the days she could not smile, this image helped me get through them, and it has helped me get through the days since she passed. You will continue to see it in my future columns, so you can join me in remembering my Heart Dog, Muppy.
Don Hanson lives in Bangor, Maine, where he is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop ( greenacreskennel.com ) and the founder of ForceFreePets.com, an online educational resource for people with dogs and cats. He is a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (PCBC-A) accredited by the Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB) and a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP). A Pet Professional Guild (PPG) member, Don serves on the Board of Directors, Steering Committee, and chairs the Advocacy Task Force and Shock-Free Coalition. The opinions in this article are those of Don Hanson. ©2026, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved