Footage shows Zeus sitting loyally by the coffin and then being helped to take one last look at his mistress in her open casket before she is aid to rest
Heartbreaking footage shows a mourning dog paying its final respects to his owner at her funeral.
Pit bull Zeus was allowed to pop his front paws onto the casket to take a last look at his owner in her open coffin in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, north Mexico.
The video was shared on TikTok by user ‘Herrera Nalleli’ where it has been viewed 4.6 million times.
In the video clip the dogs is seen accompanied by the message: “We will miss you Mummy.”
Footage shows Zeus sitting loyally by the coffin and then being helped to take one last look at his mistress in her casket.
She was not named by local media.
But social media users had a lot to say about the viral video which prompted much emotion amongst viewer.
One TikTok user commented: “Thank you for letting him say goodbye to his granny, and my deepest condolences.”
Another remarked: “The dog feels so much love for Grandma.”
One more added: “Dogs confirm that our loved ones are still among us after they pass away.”
And someone else wrote: “This made me cry!”
In November We told how a farmer who lost his best friend, sister and dog in the space of a year and took on mammoth charity challenge in their honour.
Leo Deen was struggling to come to terms with recent family bereavements, and decided to walk a huge trek from Congleton, in Cheshire, to Glasgow, Scotland while pushing a garden wheelbarrow.
The 57-year-old was devastated when his best friend, Joey Henshaw, passed away in January, which was followed by the death of his border collie, Rollo, just weeks later.
The farmer said: “Joey was like a brother to me and it was really upsetting when he passed away. Then Rollo died a few weeks later. Rollo was my best soul mate, he was as sweet as a nut.”
The white and tan collie lived with Leo on his Timbersbrook farm for three years, but began rapidly losing weight when he was diagnosed with cancer, dying just weeks later.
But when Leo’s sister, Lea Wright, died five weeks ago, he needed to do something to take his mind off the losses he’d endured over the last year.
He said: “I didn’t believe that Lea died – she was only 18 months older than me.
“I needed to get closure, and even though I’d seen the coffin I didn’t believe she was dead. I needed something to do so I decided I was going to walk to Glasgow.”
Armed with a garden wheelbarrow filled with personal mementos and supplies, Leo set off on his emotional journey north. The route from Congleton to Glasgow spanned nearly 230 miles, with Leo averaging 15 to 20 miles per day. The walk was more than just a physical feat—it was a pilgrimage of remembrance and love.
“I carried a framed photo of Joey, a collar that belonged to Rollo, and one of Lea’s scarves,” Leo said. “They were with me the whole way. I’d stop sometimes just to talk to them like they were still here.”
Along the way, people who heard Leo’s story online and through local news began to reach out. Strangers would meet him on the road, offering hot meals, warm drinks, and heartfelt support. Some walked a few miles alongside him, listening to his stories and sharing their own tales of loss and resilience.
“It was amazing how many people opened their hearts to me,” Leo recalled. “One lady in Preston said she lost her husband last year and hadn’t spoken about it until she met me. We cried together on the side of the road.”
By the time Leo reached the outskirts of Glasgow, he had raised over £10,000 for mental health charities and animal rescue centers—causes close to his heart. “Grief is a heavy thing,” he said. “But helping others, even in small ways, makes that weight easier to carry.”
Leo’s journey struck a chord with many, particularly those who have experienced the deep, unique grief that comes with losing a beloved pet. Dogs like Rollo and Zeus are more than companions; they are family, confidants, and emotional anchors in times of darkness.
Zeus’s final farewell at his owner’s funeral mirrored the sentiment Leo expressed throughout his walk: the unbreakable bond between humans and their dogs. That bond is often deeper than words can convey. In moments of grief, that connection becomes even more apparent—offering both comfort and a powerful reminder of the love shared.
As viewers watched Zeus gently being lifted to see his mistress one final time, many couldn’t hold back their emotions. One viewer shared: “This reminded me of when my dog waited by my grandfather’s door for weeks after he passed. They really do grieve in their own way.”
Another wrote: “Animals have souls. They feel loss like we do. Zeus is a symbol of all the dogs out there who’ve lost their humans.”
The viral nature of the video also opened up conversations around allowing pets to grieve. Some funeral homes around the world have started offering “pet-inclusive” services, acknowledging that dogs and cats form deep emotional connections with their owners. Allowing pets to say goodbye can be a vital part of the healing process—for both the animal and the family left behind.
Experts in animal behavior agree. Dr. Amelia Cortes, a veterinarian specializing in animal psychology, said: “Grieving rituals help pets process loss. They may not understand death the way humans do, but they feel absence and change deeply. Letting a dog say goodbye can reduce anxiety, confusion, and depression in the weeks following a loved one’s death.”
Zeus’s story may be one of sorrow, but it also celebrates the beauty of loyalty and love. In a world often filled with chaos and heartbreak, moments like these remind us of the quiet strength and emotional intelligence of our animal companions.
And sometimes, that loyalty lives on in extraordinary ways.
In another recent story, a Labrador named Max walked over 40 miles to return to his former home after his elderly owner passed away and he was rehomed with a relative. The dog had been with the woman for over a decade and couldn’t adapt to the new surroundings. Despite his age, Max made the journey over several days, arriving at the doorstep of his old house tired, dirty, and wagging his tail.
The neighbor who found him recognized Max immediately and contacted the family. Touched by the dog’s devotion, they agreed to let Max stay in the house under the care of a family friend who lived nearby.
“It’s where he feels close to her,” the neighbor said. “He lies on the porch where she used to sit every morning with her tea. It’s like he’s waiting for her to come back.”
These stories—whether it’s Zeus’s final farewell, Leo’s walk of remembrance, or Max’s incredible journey—speak to the same truth: love doesn’t end with death. For dogs, who love with all their hearts, that bond remains long after their humans are gone.
Back in Ciudad Juarez, Zeus’s life continues. Local reports say the family is taking care of him and making sure he is surrounded by love and routine, which is crucial in helping dogs cope with loss. They’ve set up a cozy corner in the house with his favorite blanket and a photo of his beloved owner, hoping it brings him comfort.
“He waits by the door sometimes, like he’s expecting her to come back,” one family member shared. “But he’s slowly adjusting. We talk to him, walk with him, and let him feel her presence in little ways.”
Social media users continue to check in on Zeus’s story, asking for updates and sending love from around the world. Many say the video inspired them to hold their pets a little tighter and cherish every moment.
One touching comment read: “After watching Zeus, I hugged my dog so hard. I realized how short life is and how much our pets feel everything we do.”
In the end, stories like these remind us not only of the pain of saying goodbye but also the incredible gift of connection—how even in death, love finds a way to linger, through a paw on a casket, a long walk with memories, or a silent vigil on a familiar porch.
Zeus may not understand the finality of loss in the way humans do, but his actions speak louder than words. In sitting beside the casket, lifting his head for one last look, and staying close to the people his owner loved, Zeus offered the purest form of tribute: unconditional, unwavering love.
And that, perhaps, is the most powerful farewell of all.
