28/08/2026
BTRC has some devastating news to share. Luna, one of our Set for Life dogs, has passed. We are heartbroken.
When Luna came to us from a shelter, there was a lot we simply didn’t know about her. She had been described as aggressive, yet she was great with the shelter volunteers. Could she live with other dogs? No one really knew. She wasn’t properly using her back legs, which pointed to a possible neurological issue. There were far more questions than answers.
What we did know was that Luna had no future if she remained in the shelter, and we felt she deserved a chance. Thankfully, we had a volunteer willing to offer her one – to bring her home, give her time, and discover who Luna really was.
Her foster mom quickly discovered that Luna was much more than the description she had been given. She made people smile everywhere she went and quickly became a neighbourhood showstopper with her unique way of strutting down the sidewalk. She also had her own very special way of communicating – a little grumble that, if you didn’t know her, could sound like a growl. But those who knew Luna understood it was her way of saying what was on her mind…and Luna was a very opinionated girl. 😂
She loved her toys and made sure they were never far away. Luna also had three devoted aunts and a grandma who adored her. One of them had a special tradition of singing to Luna over the phone every night. No matter what challenges the day may have brought, it always ended with someone telling her, in song, just how loved she was.
And then there was her foster mom – the person who saw Luna not as a dog with behavioural challenges or a mobility issue, but simply as a dog who needed someone to believe in her. And that is what she did. Every single day. She gave Luna the chance to be understood, to feel safe, and most importantly, to simply be Luna.
Luna received extensive veterinary care and physiotherapy, but eventually she was struggling more and more. She was becoming increasingly uncomfortable and withdrawn – and little by little, the unmistakable Luna ‘spark’ that everyone loved was disappearing. The things that once seemed manageable were becoming harder for her, and veterinary appointments were difficult for her to endure. She was tired.
We knew it was time for the hardest decision we’d ever make for a dog we love – to let her go before we were ready, because she was.
Her aunt sang to her one last time over the phone. The same voice that had sung to her night after night was there to tell her, one final time, just how very loved she was.
The next day, Luna passed peacefully and with dignity, with her foster mom by her side, the person who had believed in her from the beginning and stayed with her until the very end.
Luna – we are grateful that the world got to see how amazing you were. We’re even more grateful that you got to know just how much you mattered, and how deeply you were loved.
Run free, sweet girl. You will never, ever be forgotten. ❤️🌈🐾
