21/10/2026
🌈🐾 For Our Beautiful Boy, Marvin. Our Marvii Doo Doo. Our Dumpulu. Forever Our Boy. ❤️
It has been 24 hours since we helped our beautiful boy Marvin gently make his way across the Rainbow Bridge, to a place where the cruel cancer and the pain it brought could no longer follow him.
And somehow, the world feels a little quieter without him.
The last 10 days, since Marvin's diagnosis, have been an emotional roller coaster for our entire Pet Stays family. Between caring for all the beautiful pups entrusted to us, Jeannene and I were doing everything we possibly could for our own boy. We explored every option, held on to every bit of hope and would have done anything to give him more time with us.
But the cancer was aggressive, unforgiving and heartbreakingly fast.
Yet we refuse to let cancer be the story of Marvin's life.
Because Marvin was never defined by his illness.
He was defined by his magnificent personality, his extraordinary presence and the way he made everyone around him feel.
Our elegant hound, with his shimmering black coat that glistened like a black panther in the sunshine. His stunning good looks, his graceful stride and that extraordinary sprint that no dog in our neighbourhood parks could ever quite match.
He was handsome, and goodness, did he know it! ❤️
But behind those beautiful looks was the kindest, gentlest soul.
Marvin came into our lives during COVID and became so much more than our resident dog at Pet Stays. He became our companion, our little supervisor, our welcoming committee and the heart of our home.
He took his responsibilities very seriously, too!
Every new pup was someone to welcome. Every familiar face was a friend worth greeting. Every little commotion needed his inspection. Whether it was a tiny pup or a big, boisterous dog, Marvin had room in his heart for them all.
Over the years, he made countless friendships, with dogs of every shape, size and personality. And so many of their humans fell completely in love with him too.
He had that special something. An aura. A charm. A presence that is impossible to explain unless you had the pleasure of knowing him.
And oh, how he loved attention!
We often joked about Marvin's loyalty, especially when he was busy charming someone else into giving him cuddles.
But the truth is, my boy followed me like my shadow.
Where I went, he went.
He was always watching, always checking, always making sure his people and his pack were together.
Marvin wasn't simply part of Pet Stays. In so many ways, Marvin was Pet Stays.
He represented everything we have always believed dogs deserve. Kindness, companionship, freedom to be themselves, friendship, unconditional love and the simple joy of belonging to a pack.
And we feel incredibly blessed that, of all the places he could have called home, he spent these beautiful years with us.
Yesterday, we said goodbye to his physical presence.
But we haven't said goodbye to Marvin.
Not to his spirit. Not to the memories. Not to the thousands of little moments that made him our boy.
We don't want Marvin's name to become a reminder of sadness alone.
We want it to bring laughter when we remember his cheeky ways. Smiles when we picture him racing across the park. Warmth when we remember his beautiful face, and joy when we think of all the friendships he made.
Because that is how Marvin lived.
He lived for his pack, and he loved with his whole heart.
And now, it is our turn to carry that love forward.
In Marvin's honour, we want to make the years ahead mean something beautiful.
We will continue to give every dog in our care the love, kindness and attention that Marvin helped make part of our everyday lives.
We will continue exploring healthier, more natural treats and better ways to support the wellbeing of our canine companions.
We will work towards raising greater awareness of canine lymphoma and other serious illnesses, in the hope that more families can recognise the signs earlier and have more precious time with their beloved dogs.
And, in a very special tribute to our boy, we will be renaming the Bark with Buster Charity Fundraising Program to the Marvin's Legacy Fundraising Program. ❤️🐾
Through this initiative, we hope Marvin's name will continue to help dogs in need, support the incredible people who care for them and spread the same love he gave so freely throughout his life.
A little piece of Marvin, helping another pup.
We think he would have loved that.
To everyone who has reached out, checked on us, sent kind words, offered support or simply held our boy in their thoughts, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Your kindness has meant more than we can express.
Jeannene and I, along with our Pet Stays family, will be taking a little time to ourselves. Not to dwell in sorrow, but to remember, celebrate and find comfort in the beautiful life we were so fortunate to share with Marvin.
To look through his photos, laugh at his antics, remember his adventures and hold close every precious memory.
Our boy came into our lives during a time when the world stood still, and somehow, he made our little world feel complete.
Marvii Doo Doo. Dumpulu. Our magnificent black panther. Our loyal shadow. Our gentle giant. Our beautiful boy.
Thank you for choosing us as your family.
Thank you for loving every member of your pack.
Thank you for making Pet Stays a happier, warmer and more beautiful place simply by being there.
Run free now, our handsome boy. Run as fast as those beautiful legs will carry you.
No more pain. No more sickness. Just endless green fields, familiar friends and all the love you could ever imagine.
And if there's a pack up there waiting for someone to look after them, we know exactly who will be checking on everyone. ❤️
You will always be part of our pack, Marvin.
Forever loved. Forever celebrated. Forever our boy.
🌈🐾 Marvin's legacy is not how he left us. It is how he taught us to love, and how that love will continue through every life we touch.
With all our love and gratitude,
Reza, Jeannene & the Pet Stays Melbourne Family ❤️
In loving memory of Marvin, our Marvii Doo Doo, our Dumpulu. 🐾🌈
