Hugo—my son, my pride, my happiness, my tiger, my everything. I miss you every single day, every single moment.
It may sound strange, but until 2016, when Hugo, my English Mastiff, came into my life, I never had any special affection for animals. I wasn’t what you would call an animal lover. In fact, Hugo came home only because my kids and my wife wanted a pet. Honestly, I wasn’t in favor of it. But as they say, God always has a plan of His own.
From the very beginning, Hugo chose me. Out of everyone in the family, he gravitated toward me—the one least interested in dogs. He became my shadow, my tail. He would follow me everywhere, wait patiently outside the bathroom door, sit quietly outside my room if it was shut, and curl up beside me at the dining table. He slept next to me, and the way he welcomed me home after work was beyond words. He would run in and out, jumping with excitement, as if we were meeting after ages. That was our daily ritual, our unspoken bond.
The only thing Hugo ever truly wanted in life was my time and my presence. His happiest moments were the car rides we took together.
Through him, I learned life’s greatest lessons. Hugo showed me what unconditional love feels like, what humility truly means, and the value of simple companionship. He changed my entire perspective on life.
When he left me—when kidney failure took him away—I felt helpless. I saw the hope in his eyes, his faith that being with me meant he could conquer anything. But this time, I couldn’t save him. The fact that kidney transplants for dogs don’t exist left me broken. The void he left behind is one no one will ever fill.
I truly believe God sends angels to Earth in the form of dogs—creatures who love us without conditions, without expectations. Hugo was my angel.
In his memory, we have started this initiative—to help strays, support shelter homes, assist pet parents in need of treatment or food for their animals, and even help hospitals procure equipment. In doing this, I feel closer to Hugo, as though I am carrying forward his love.
I know, with certainty, that wherever he is today, Hugo is loved just as deeply as he loved me. I know he must be the favorite in Heaven, waiting for the day we meet again.
With all my love,
Dad