He spent his last days on Earth celebrating his family 🥺

In 2006, 12-year-old Ryan Dyer received a surprise he’d been dreaming of for years: an adorable puppy, whom he named Jack. Jack and Dyer became instant best friends, going on to make countless memories together for nearly 20 years. But it wasn’t until one of Jack’s very last days on Earth, the day of Dyer’s wedding, that the most meaningful memories were created.

As a puppy, Jack’s favorite days included naps by the pool, play-fights with his fur sister, Charlie, and walks around the local Australian wetlands with Dyer. He wasn’t quite into toys and never enjoyed chasing sticks, but he was obsessed with food and the boy raising him.

The years passed quickly, and Dyer soon turned from a teenager to a young adult with Jack by his side to celebrate every milestone. There was nothing that Jack loved more than spending time with Dyer — until Lib came along. Dyer’s girlfriend, Lib, hit it off instantly with Jack, and the duo quickly became an unbreakable trio.

“When [Lib] and I moved in together in 2019, she became a massive part in Jack’s life, too,” Dyer told The Dodo. “He’d sleep on our bed or couch in between us, have a [puppuccino] while we had our morning coffees, but most importantly, he was our chief food taster … every meal we cooked in the kitchen, he tried it first.”

Even though he was aging, Jack’s life became even more adventurous when Lib arrived. To help keep him as healthy as possible, Dyer intentionally kept Jack active by taking him everywhere with them.

“Whether this was camping, interstate trips, beach days, to wineries and breweries, into the city, to any family gathering and everything in between. If it wasn’t dog-friendly, then we wouldn’t do it,” Dyer said. “Instead of going to the movies, we always went to our local drive-in theater so the three of us could sit in the car, share some snacks and watch the film together.”

In March of 2024, Dyer proposed to Lib with Jack’s help, and the couple knew right away that they wanted to include their beloved pup in their wedding. But as the special day neared, Jack’s health began to decline, and the couple soon realized that his wedding involvement would be more bittersweet than expected.

Sadly, Jack’s mobility began to decline in the months leading up to the big day. He celebrated his 19th birthday two weeks before the wedding, complete with his favorite foods and a relaxing walk in his mobility cart. But after a series of debilitating seizures, his parents had no choice but to say goodbye to him a few days after their nuptials.

“Planning his goodbye was honestly the toughest thing we’ve had to do,” Dyer said. “We were very fortunate that he pushed on to make it to our big day to celebrate with us.”

Despite the heartache, and fueled by their unconditional love for the sweet boy, Jack’s parents planned to include him in every part of their wedding celebration. Jack’s mobility cart was placed next to the groomsmen during the ceremony, where he watched his parents say their heartfelt vows.

After the ceremony, the wedding guests, many of whom had known Jack for years, had the chance to love on him one last time.

“For the reception and cocktail hour, we set up a bed and snack bar, so people could give him a treat, a pat and say any of their own goodbyes,” Dyer said.

You can watch footage from the wedding here:

Throughout the event, wedding videographer Jamie Ross focused on capturing all the best moments with the couple and their loved ones, including Jack.

“I don’t usually get emotional at weddings these days … but this story got me,” Ross wrote on Instagram. “When I arrived on the wedding day, it was immediately clear how much Jack meant to his Ryan [and] Lib, and I knew I had to capture whatever I could.”

To end the night, the newlywed Dyers shared a special moment with Jack on the dance floor.

“During the final song of the night, I picked him up so the three of us could dance together, and shortly after bringing him onto the dance floor, he let out the most adorable howl, which made us all laugh,” Dyer said.

The Dyers’ wedding day was unforgettable, made even better with the presence of their four-legged best friend. They spent the following days showering him with love at home, then tearfully said goodbye to him on Monday.

It’s been a month since Jack’s passing, and his presence is still heavily missed at home. Though heartbroken, the Dyers feel comforted when looking at their wedding photo shoot, knowing they gave him the best farewell a dog could ever ask for.

“We love it so much, as he’s got the happiest smile on him,” Dyer said.