Woman Flew Her Beloved Dog Across the World for a Vacation. Then, He Died (Exclusive)
Yasol and Mr. Puff shared an extraordinary bond — one that grew stronger through every chapter of her life, including when she moved from the Philippines to the United States at age 21
Last year, Yasol, now 33, flew back to Manila to compete in the Miss Universe Philippines pageant, and brought Mr. Puff along. But while there, he suffered a serious health scareMary Yasol's toy poodle, Coco — affectionately known to everyone as Mr. Puff — was quite the jet-setter. The two traveled everywhere together.
'As long as he could fit in my bag and promised to behave, he was allowed to come,' the Miami local tells PEOPLE exclusively. 'He was the best travel buddy anyone could ask for.'
"I broke so many rules for him," she adds. "I used to sneak him into places in my handbag. He loved being close to me and never wanted to be left behind. He was such a charming little rebel and always up for an adventure."
Yasol and Mr. Puff shared an extraordinary bond, one that grew stronger with every chapter of her life. It deepened even more when she moved from the Philippines to the United States at 21. She couldn't imagine starting a new life abroad without him. 'So my partner at that time agreed, and we made it possible for him to come with me,' she says.
What followed was a journey she could never have faced alone. As Yasol navigated the challenges of a new country, Mr. Puff was her only constant, her greatest source of comfort and happiness, especially during a time when her relationship became abusive.
After finding the courage to leave, she and Mr. Puff moved to South Florida when she was 26, starting completely from scratch.
'He was my biggest fan and my emotional lifeline," she says. "His presence reminded me to stay focused, to keep going, and to believe I could rebuild. And I did, everything I created, I created with him in mind. We built a beautiful life full of joy, adventure, and love. We truly did it all, together.'
So, last year, when Yasol, now 33, decided to fly back to Manila to compete in the Miss Universe Philippines pageant — a journey that would last three months — there was no doubt in her mind that Mr. Puff would be coming along.
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It was meant to be a special time, not just for her career, but for reconnecting with family and sharing the experience with Mr. Puff by her side, as always. But while there, on May 12, 2024, the real estate and beauty entrepreneur and her dog were cozied up together when he accidentally slipped and fell from a chair. It seemed minor at first, but the impact caused devastating injuries.
"The fall left him partially paralyzed and triggered a severe degenerative disc disease," she says. "My heart shattered. I never imagined that what started as a joyful trip would mark the beginning of our hardest chapter."
"He was 14 turning 15, and although he looked amazing for his age, he had early signs of aging like arthritis and partial deafness," she adds. "I had a gut feeling this would be our last trip together. I couldn't leave him behind, he would've been heartbroken."
After the fall, Yasol watched as Mr. Puff's mobility declined rapidly due to age. She tried everything to help him recover — from rehab and energy healing to ocean therapy. While it helped, it wasn't enough. 'We needed more time, and I wasn't ready to give up,' she says.
A month after the accident, on June 15, 2024, she made the difficult decision to return to Miami, hoping he could receive better care. It was a complicated journey, as he still couldn't walk.
'Despite the challenges at customs and the 24-hour-long flight, we had to pretend that he was perfectly normal and healthy," she says. "Whenever he cried in pain, I'd hug him tightly to comfort him. He understood we were in it together. He was such a seasoned traveler that he handled it with grace.'
But despite her tireless efforts, just nine days after they returned home to Miami, Yasol made the heartbreaking decision to put Mr. Puff down.
Since then, she has taken time to grieve. Now, one year later, she opened up about Mr. Puff's story on TikTok. Her video, which she says uses dark humor, has since gone viral, amassing more than 33 million views and 8,000 comments.
She says reading through the comments has been emotional, as people shared their own stories of losing their pets.
"Sharing the video felt therapeutic," she says. "I never expected it to go viral, but I'm grateful it did — I would like to use this tool to keep his memory alive."
"I hope people see that not all sad stories have to end in sadness," she adds. "Sometimes they're filled with love, laughter and resilience too. The bond between a person and their pet runs deep, and through the hardest moments, that love can become a source of strength. I want others to know that healing is possible, that starting over can be empowering, and that even in loss, there's room for joy, growth, and the kind of memories that make you smile through the tears."
"I'm deeply grateful for my family and closest friends," she continues. "Their love and support carried me through. And surprisingly, the online community became part of my healing as well."
Read the original article on People
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