A woman has shared the touching story behind the tennis ball tribute she left on Exmouth Beach this week for her beloved Cocker Spaniel, Summer.
Discussing the response to the tribute, Charlotte Hale said she was deeply comforted by people’s acceptance of her message and kind gesture.
In a note left on the beach, along with a box containing tennis balls, she said: “Summer loved nothing more than long walks along Exmouth beach, chasing tennis balls and swimming in the sea."
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The tribute also contained a photograph of Summer, who passed away one year ago on June 15, 2022.
There have been multiple heartfelt tributes to people’s pets on Devon’s dog-friendly beaches as boxes of tennis balls have been left.
Visitors to Exmouth Beach have had emotional few days after seeing a tennis ball tribute to Rex and then a further tribute a few days later to Summer.
Pets quickly become cherished members of the family providing companionship, support and unconditional love, so saying goodbye can be an incredibly emotional experience. But both pet owners commemorated their dogs' favourite place so others can enjoy their beach trip as much as they used to.
Charlotte Hale was responsible for the tribute to her much-loved dog, Summer at Orcombe Point end of Exmouth Beach, which is a section where dogs are allowed to visit all year round.
Speaking to DevonLive, Charlotte explained why she left the heart-warming tribute on the beach, saying: “Summer was my once in a lifetime dog, for almost 14 years she was there through all of life’s milestones. I knew I was going to miss her terribly when the time came, and I still do.
“I was inspired by a post in a pet loss online community run by volunteers from The Blue Cross where a dog owner in America had left a box of tennis balls at a park that was special to them. I knew that was what I wanted to do to honour Summer.”
Summer the Cocker Spaniel first became Charlotte's pet after her family dog passed away and a family friend suggested they get a new pet.
Despite originally being for the family, Summer quickly became attached to Charlotte and became her dog, following her everywhere, even accompanying her on any car journey she made.
Charlotte eventually moved away from her family in South Wales down to Devon, and there was never any doubt that Summer would be making the move with her.
Charlotte discovered Summer’s love for the beach and seaside as they visited Exmouth Beach when she was just a few months old.
She said even from such a young age, Summer “loved the wide open space, the sea and all the other dogs to play with”. Adding that even with the distractions, it was the perfect place to train a young puppy as she could “always hold her attention with a tennis ball, hence why I wanted to leave tennis balls for other dogs to enjoy in her memory.”
Sadly, after years of enjoying her weekly Sunday walks on the beach, Summer’s health deteriorated, and on a vet trip in June 2022, Charlotte knew it was time to say goodbye to her “once in a lifetime dog”.
The vet agreed that Charlotte could take Summer on one final trip to her favourite place. On June 15 2022, Summer and Charlotte enjoyed their last beach walk together, with Charlotte saying it will always hold a ‘special place in her heart’.
Grief after losing a pet is a natural response. You may feel deep sadness, emptiness, and a sense of loss after saying goodbye. Remember that everyone grieves differently, so there is no right or wrong way to mourn the loss of your pet.
If, like Charlotte and Rex’s owner, you decide to leave a generous tribute to honour your pet, sharing a note briefly explaining the situation can be therapeutic.
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