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​Bringing Simba home was both a joyous and heart-wrenching experience for me. I watched as he cautiously explored his new surroundings, his tail tucked between his legs and his eyes filled with uncertainty. But with each passing day, my love began to work its magic. Simba's once timid demeanor melted away, replaced by a newfound sense of security and trust.

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I made it my sole responsibility to nurse Simba back to health, tending to his wounds with gentle hands and a tender heart. I spent countless hours by his side, comforting him through the nightmares that haunted his sleep and showering him with love and affection. Slowly but surely, Simba's scars began to heal, both inside and out.

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Our bond grew stronger with each passing day, forged in the fires of adversity and strengthened by love's enduring power. Simba became more than just a pet to me; he was my confidant, my protector, and my closest companion. Together, we embarked on a journey of healing and transformation.

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Oh, the fun we had together. We were truly inseparable. In early 2022 Simba's health began to decline. His body, weakened by years of neglect, struggled to keep up with the passage of time. I watched with a heavy heart as my beloved companion grew frail and tired. His vet and I together decided that I would do palliative care at home. So many sleepless nights, his battling of dementia, and his other health issues. We kept him comfortable, and with so much pain in my heart I knew that our time to say goodbye was quickly on it's way.

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One September evening, Simba took his last breath in my arms. It was a peaceful passing, surrounded by love and warmth, just as he had always wanted. I held him close, whispering words of comfort as tears streamed down my cheeks. Simba had lived a life filled with love and compassion, his legacy forever etched in the hearts of those who had known him.

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My grief was overwhelming, a tidal wave of sorrow that threatened to engulf me. For weeks, I withdrew from the world, lost in a sea of memories and regrets. But in the depths of my despair, a glimmer of hope emerged—a tiny beacon of light amidst the darkness.

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Determined to honor Simba's memory in a meaningful way, I founded Simba's Workshop, an online store offering customized gifts with pet photos as a memorial to beloved pets. It was a place of solace for grieving pet parents, a way to keep their cherished companions close to their hearts even after they were gone.

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Over time, Simba's Workshop began to expand beyond my wildest dreams. What started as a humble online store evolved into a community of support and healing, offering resources and guidance to pet parents in need. I poured my heart and soul into the workshop, finding solace in the knowledge that I was making a difference in the lives of others.

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Simba left behind his brother Sherlock who was adopted at 13 years old, also a rescue, who desperately needed my care and attention. He became very depressed after losing his brother, as did I. We helped each other through, and I knew that we needed to bring another furry family member into the home to renew both of our spirits. 

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Seven months after Simba's passing, another soul in need found its way into our lives. His name was Walter, a Pekingese with a heart as big as the sky and eyes filled with longing. Like Simba before him, Walter had been neglected and left to die in a back alley, his spirit broken by the cruelty of the world.​​​​​​

 

But I refused to let history repeat itself. With open arms and a loving heart, we welcomed Walter into our home, vowing to give him the love and care he deserved. Together, we embarked on a new journey of healing and hope, our bond forged in the fires of adversity and strengthened by love's enduring power. Sadly at the end of May 2024, Sherlock would follow in his older brother's footsteps, and in the same fashion, battling dementia, along with other senior end-of-life health issues, and he would pass away at home with Jesse and I both holding his paws as he took his last breath. I was very lucky to have the opportunity to have that special time with them near the end. Many people don't get that with their babies. I know how truly blessed I was, and am to be granted that gift from God. It was then and there I knew that my calling was greater, and that I need to be all that I can be for pet parents and their babies. 

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My life took on a new purpose, as I am now dedicating myself to helping pets and pet parents in need. I have just recently closed my other business to focus solely on Simba's Workshop & For the Love of Our Pets, pouring my time and energy into fur babies and their pet parents around the world. It is a labor of love, a tribute to the memory of a little Pekingese named Simba who had stolen my heart and changed my life forever. As I sit here writing this with my memorial coffee mug of Simba (2 years later) almost to the day, I remember the closeness I felt, having something that reminds me of him every morning, and gives me hope. That is the gift I want to give, hope. 

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And so, the legacy of Simba lives on, a testament to the power of love and compassion in the face of adversity. In the quiet moments of reflection, I can still feel his presence, his spirit watching over me with love and gratitude. I now have 3 fur babies in heaven watching over me. Jasper, Simba, and Sherlock. And in these moments, I know that our bond will endure for all eternity, strengthened by love's enduring power.

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