“The Dog Who Still Visits His Best Friend Every Day”
In 2012, Spiro Vganges’ life changed forever when he and his family adopted a gentle shelter dog named Lex.
From that moment on, Lex became more than a pet — he was family, a loyal friend who stood beside Spiro through every high and low.
“He was always by my side,” Spiro told The Dodo. “He was the most amazing, loving, sweetest animal I’d ever met.”
Years later, the family decided to open their hearts again — this time to a playful young pup named Vaughn.
Vaughn quickly became Lex’s shadow, always nudging her to play, jumping around her with boundless puppy energy. And even though Lex was older, she did her best to keep up.
“They definitely had that older dog and younger dog dynamic,” Spiro said, smiling at the memory.
As time went on, their energy slowed, but their bond only deepened. Wherever one went, the other followed — side by side, heart to heart.
Then, one quiet day, after a lifetime of love, Lex passed away.
Vaughn was allowed to say goodbye — a moment that seemed to bring him some understanding, though not much comfort. His best friend, the one who’d always been there, was suddenly gone.
“His best friend was just a memory,” Spiro said softly.
To honor Lex, Spiro created a memorial — a small shadowbox holding her paw print, a lock of fur, her ashes, and a few cherished photos. He placed it on top of the piano in the living room, where the light could gently fall on it each day.
A few moments later, Vaughn walked into the room. He saw the shadowbox immediately.
“He got close to it, and I said, ‘Hey, do you see Lex?’” Spiro recalled. “His ears went up … and he got so excited.”
Vaughn pressed his nose close, wagged his tail, and lingered — as if he could feel her there.
Since that day, Vaughn visits Lex’s memorial every single day.
He stands quietly beside it, his eyes soft, his tail still. It’s as if he knows — that somehow, this is where her spirit rests.
“It really shows the bond he had with Lex,” Spiro said.
Those quiet visits have helped Vaughn heal. And, in a way, they’ve helped Spiro too — a reminder that love doesn’t end when someone’s gone. It just takes a new form.
“We were lucky to have Lex,” Spiro said. “And we’re lucky to have Vaughn.”