James William Warner, 22, departed this world prematurely, hurting the hearts of his loved ones, particularly his dog Ace.
The dog was in such pain that he would not leave the burial of his owner.
The heartbreaking image was shared on Facebook by Warner’s mother, Christy West Warner.
Christy, just like any other mother, was devastated to learn of her son’s passing. “It’s as if I’m having an out-of-body experience.” I just passed out. “My entire world had been shattered into a million pieces,” she told the Tennessean.
“Every second I spent with Will was a delight.” He was simply larger than life, and he was a good boy. “He was very approachable,” she added.
The 25-year-old suspect is the son of a judge, and police apprehended him right away.
Christy and her husband, James Robert, had to bury their son right away because his body had decomposed. They couldn’t even choose a casket for Will.
“Everything has been taken from us. “Every last ounce of closure or peace that we could have gotten from saying goodbye, we didn’t get,” she went on.
Todd Warner, a Tennessee state representative, described his nephew as a young man who “loved life and loved people.”
“It’s just a tragic conclusion to something that should never have happened,” he said.
Will’s uncle described him as a “typical country boy” who helped his family raise chickens for Tyson Foods. He grew up raising cattle and row crops.
Dogs live for us, giving and receiving all the love they can. Their loss of a human being is incomprehensible to them and to us.
Ace never left the side of the casket during the funeral. When his master was laid to rest, the dog sat down on the grave. It was a heartbreaking moment to witness.
Ace and Warner were inseparable. Even when attending school, Ace didn’t mind waiting in the truck.
“This dog is very special, and Will was very proud of him,” she explained.
Warner also took Ace to church and other family gatherings. Everyone knew Ace and Warner had a special bond. Ace would come running if Warner simply called.
Only Warner and Ace could understand their love. Ace had a wonderful owner, which explains the dog’s unwavering loyalty and love for Warner. The poor dog suffered a devastating loss.
To find out if dogs grieve for their deceased owners, experts have conducted studies and research.
“When an owner dies before her pet, it can be a confusing, sad, and difficult period, even if arrangements have been made for the animal to be cared for by someone else,” said Russell Hartstein, a certified behaviorist and dog trainer based in Los Angeles.
We pray the entire family finds comfort as they grieve. May the entire family, including Ace, heal and return to normalcy as soon as possible. It is never easy to lose a loved one.
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