After Losing Her Best Friend, Senior Dog Meets His Twin

For 17 years, Romeo and Juliet were best friends. They ate together, walked side by side, and spent hours cuddling in bed. But after nearly two decades of being inseparable, Juliet lost her beloved Romeo. The caretakers at Vintage Pet Rescue, a shelter for older dogs, faced a difficult question: how do you replace a dog’s best friend?

Romeo and Juliet, two elderly dachshunds, arrived at the Rhode Island rescue earlier in the summer after their owner passed away. Kristen Peralta, the founder of the rescue, was deeply moved by their strong bond. The pair was always cuddling and sharing the same bed. “Romeo would fall asleep first, and Juliet would climb on top of him to get comfortable. They were always sniffing each other’s ears—it was heartwarming to watch,” Peralta shared.

Their new life at the rescue seemed to be going well until Romeo’s health began to decline. Once a dog who never left food in his bowl, Romeo stopped eating. Peralta feared his kidney failure, diagnosed as stage two, had worsened. “When we took him to the vet, his kidney values were so high they couldn’t be measured,” Peralta said. “We were devastated, but we knew the kindest thing was to say goodbye. We brought Juliet with us so she could be there for him.”

After Romeo passed away, Juliet returned to the rescue, now surrounded by other senior dogs. However, none could replace her best friend. That’s when Peralta had a “silly” idea. A few days after Romeo’s passing, she thought it might help if Juliet had something to cuddle that reminded her of Romeo. So, she searched online and found a stuffed dachshund that looked like Romeo. It was perfect.

“I wasn’t sure if she’d respond to it, but I was glad she did,” Peralta said. “I know it’s not a replacement for Romeo, but it seems to comfort her.” Now, Juliet can often be found snuggled up with the plush toy, just like she used to do with Romeo. If you look closely, it almost seems like she’s reunited with her old friend.

“Juliet enjoys cuddling with the toy and often climbs on top of it, just like she did with Romeo,” Peralta said. “She’s 17 and not in the best health, so we just want to keep her happy and comfortable for as long as she has left.”

Photos and videos of Juliet and Romeo have been shared online, touching the hearts of dog lovers everywhere. This attention has even sparked interest in adopting Juliet. “We have a few people interested in giving her a home, including one of our volunteers,” Peralta said. “Hopefully, she’ll find a new forever home in the coming weeks.”

Juliet has been lucky—she got to grow old with her best friend, and now, an entire community is rooting for her in her next chapter. “She’s such a sweet and happy girl,” Peralta said. “She deserves all the love and attention.”