On a frigid winter day in Philadelphia, Nayana Gadde, a local pet photographer, stumbled upon a Facebook post that moved her to action. Instead of staying cozy indoors, she found herself drawn to a heartwarming invitation. A dog named Louise, affectionately called Lou was about to cross the rainbow bridge, and her loving owner, Marlana, wanted to give her a send-off filled with joy, treats, and love. Marlana posted an open call to the community, inviting anyone who wanted to celebrate Lou’s life to join them for a farewell party. Marlana hoped this ‘goodbye gathering’ would put a smile on her ailing dog’s face even though she was experiencing discomfort and pain.
“This is my girl Louise, and if you live around East Passyunk, you may have seen her begging for pets and using her missing front leg for extra pity over the last decade,” Marlana wrote in a Facebook group. The message explained Lou’s love for attention and snacks, particularly cheese, and encouraged people to stop by and spoil her one last time. Gadde, who frequently photographs pets in their golden years, felt compelled to attend.
“I love seeing how much people love their pets with gestures such as this,” Gadde told The Dodo. She mentioned her work with The Tilly Project, a global network of photographers who provide end-of-life sessions, often donating proceeds to senior pet rescues like City of Elderly Love.
Despite the biting cold and short notice, dozens of people braved the weather to give Lou a final day to remember. Attendees brought snacks galore, with cheese being the star of the event. “People fed her cheese, I think a cannoli, and some other treats,” Gadde shared. “She loved the treats — it was like she was thinking, ‘OK, next in line to feed me, I’m ready!’”
Lou basked in the love and attention, wagging her tail as strangers and friends alike lined up to give her pets and goodies. The community’s turnout deeply touched Marlana and her family, who were overwhelmed by the kindness shown to their cherished pup.
“They all seemed so grateful that random strangers came out in the cold to meet Louise,” Gadde said. True to Marlana’s words in her post, “There’s nothing more she loved than a stranger with food,” Lou’s final day was filled with everything she adored. Her send-off wasn’t just a celebration of her life; it was a testament to the power of love and community.
She Could Barely Walk or Breathe When Rescuers Found Her
Rescuers swooped in, but when they got the pup into their care, she had lost the use of her back legs, was struggling to breathe, and weighed just around 20 pounds.
While Lou’s situation was one of loss, this gathering of kindness is one of hope and unity. Marlana had to say goodbye to Lou that evening, but her heart wasn’t completely shattered, knowing Lou wasn’t just loved by her alone. To see Lou’s send-off party and humanity at its finest, click ‘play’ below.
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@ngpawpics When Marlana posted in a fb group inviting people to come out to celebrate her 14 year old pup’s last day, people showed up. I was lucky to have been able to go- here are some pictures from today. I love my city! #philly ♬ Home – Edith Whiskers
