Forrest was a one-year-old stray that Terri and John Hembree found in desperate need of a loving home. The couple were more than happy to adopt the dog and give him all the love he deserved.

Forrest lived 12 beautiful years with his family in Southern California. He loved playing fetch on the beach!

As Forrest aged, he was diagnosed with Canine Degenerative Myelopathy.

The disease soon began to limit the dog’s mobility, his back legs taking the brunt of the disease.

Forrest may have been old and his mobility limited but the dog kept a positive spirit. “Even when he could no longer walk, he would always go to his toy box and grab a ball over anything else,” Teri Hembree told The Dodo. “That was just part of his personality.”

Forrest had a lot of life left in him and his family knew it.

There were those who suggested that Forrest be put down when he began to deteriorate but his parents refused. John said, “Some people told us we needed to let him go, but he just had way too much spirit. Aside from the mobility issue, he was perfect. He just wanted to play. He was just a ball-crazy dog.”

Terri and John came up with a wheelchair that would suit Forrest well and he loved it! Forrest could continue playing with his tennis balls on the beach.

“There were people who said they were so depressed they couldn’t get out of bed in the morning because of some physical ailment, and they would write us and tell us that they saw Forrest and it helped them get out of bed and face the day,” said Teri. “Even with what Forrest was facing, he would always get up and go. It inspired us to do more.”

Forrest fought for another year but as he deteriorated further, Terri and John knew they had to let him go.

Once Forrest was laid to rest, his parents knew they had to honor their beloved dog.

“We thought it would be a good idea to honor Forrest by leaving out a bucket of balls for other dogs and their owners at his favorite beach,” Teri explained. “We placed it there, and in the evening we sat and watched people grab the balls and play with their dogs.”

They added a sign that read:

“Forrest loved to play on this beach. Please feel free to borrow a ball and play with your dog. Please return it when you are done so others may play as well.”

“We thought it would last a week, but it’s been there for months,” John added. The couple understandably mourned their loss but they found solace in the special memorial they created in Forrest’s honor.

“We’re just really happy that there’s a legacy for him. He was just a really good dog,” said John. “When we’re feeling a little bit down, we will go to Forrest’s beach and just sit and watch other dogs playing with the balls. It makes our day to know that others are bringing their dogs out to play.”

Hug your dog often and make sure they get all the love they deserve!

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Source: I Love My Dog So Much