“When Daniel Hove learned of his pancreatic cancer diagnosis, his family and friends came together to support him. Daniel, a former Air Force veteran who now serves as an assistant fire chief, received tremendous assistance from his loved ones.”
“When Daniel Hove was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, his family and friends came together to assist him during this challenging time as he navigated through it. However, one of the most supportive companions was Daniel’s loyal dog, Gunner, an 11-year-old Labrador who hardly ever left his owner’s side.”
Pictures from Daniel’s last years depict his faithful dog cuddling beside him in bed and curling up on his lap, despite weighing 90 pounds. Regardless of the circumstances, Gunner ensured he was always just a few inches away from his beloved owner.
“They were inseparable till the very end,” said Daniel’s daughter, Heather Nicoletti, to Kare 11. “They were hunting buddies, they went everywhere together.” So it wasn’t surprising, really, that when Daniel was lying sick, his loyal dog suddenly fell ill, too.”
“When my dad would get upset, the dog would get upset too. If my dad was restless, the dog was restless,” his daughter recalled, reflecting on how her father and Gunner had always mirrored each other’s emotions. “If my dad was unresponsive, the dog was unresponsive too. So when we noticed the dog wasn’t moving much anymore, not doing well, we knew it was coming.”
One day, as the old dog grew increasingly lethargic and his movements became slower, Heather realized it was sadly time to put Gunner down. “I called the vet clinic where I used to work,” she said. “They scheduled us right away, and I rushed him there to be put to sleep. About an hour and a half later, my dad passed away too.” Despite her immense sorrow at losing her father—a devoted parent, loyal veteran, cherished community member, and a steadfast mentor and friend to all—heather found solace in knowing that her dad, at least, didn’t have to say goodbye to his beloved dog. Such a separation would have been equally heartbreaking for Gunner, who could never stand to be far from his best human friend.
“I remember thinking, I don’t know which would be harder for Gunner,” Heather recalled. “To take him away to end his suffering by putting him to sleep, or to let him live through Dad’s passing. Either way, it would be devastating for him. We knew they would go together; we just didn’t expect it to be hours apart.”
