
By Mallory Mattingly
It doesn’t matter how much a person prepares — losing a pet is never easy. Jenny Marrs and her family know that feeling all too well as they mourn the death of their beloved dog, Dolly-Sue.
The HGTV star and her husband Dave originally found Dolly nearly on the verge of death as a young puppy. The original owner “suspected cancer, but didn’t want to spend the money on surgery.” So, the owner “finally agreed to let her come live with us,” Marrs wrote on Instagram.
“Three surgeries and a few hernias removed later, she went on to live a very full, very free, never in a kennel again, life with us for the next decade,” the FIXER TO FABULOUS star added. “She was the best girl. She loved our kids and loved every animal we brought home to the farm. She accepted everyone and loved unconditionally. She napped hard and smiled big. Even as she aged and was in constant pain, she had a spunk and zest for life that was unmatched.”
The pup lived 18 years with the family, and as with any loss, they’re hurting.
“The pain is too raw right now to properly convey how much Dolly has meant to our family. She was our family. She will never be forgotten,” Marrs shared. “The tears we’ve shed are insignificant compared to the joy she gifted us with. We would say yes a thousand times over, despite the inevitable heartbreak of goodbye. She was absolutely worth it.”
After she shared the news of Dolly’s passing, fans flooded the comment section with condolences and memories of their own furry family members.
“Our farm feels empty without our Dolly girl and we are all so, so sad. Every dog owner knows how much our four-legged babies mean to us. Thank you for loving our girl along with us all these years,” Marrs wrote in another post. “From living in a kennel to becoming a beloved TV pup and gracing the pages of my book…Dolly’s life is proof that it doesn’t matter where you came from; you are worthy of love and you can make a big impact on so many hearts. We’ll always miss our girl and we’ll always be thankful for the beautiful years we had together. She loved us so well.”
Related: What Jenny Marrs’ Farm Animals Teach Us About Loving Well
Their family adventures feel a little empty now without Dolly.
“Our first time at the lake, ever, without our Dolly girl,” Mars posted a few days later. The traces of tears still lined our cheeks, but we experienced joy seeping through the cracks of sorrow this weekend. Water is healing. Adventure is empowering. Gratitude is grace.”
While the Marrses miss their beloved dog, their memories of Dolly will keep her close.
Read Next: How the Farm Affirms Jenny Marrs’ Faith: ‘We Have a Really Good Shepherd Leading Us’
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