A service dog who received international attention after the company hired him and his owner, Owen Lima, has passed away.
According to Lima, it’s been a tough week for his family as he had to put down his best friend, Blue.
“I bawled my head off when Blue was put down,” he remembered.
“Life without Blue is not the same.”
Lima said the dog was put down Monday morning. He described one incident where Blue had fallen down the stairs and began suffering from incontinence.
“He was at the top of the stairs and he fell all the way down to the bottom, and he didn’t have any control, we carried him to the top and he said ‘I’ll do better next time’,” Owen said.
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Lima, 55, and Blue had been together nearly a decade. Lima has been dealing with the aftermath of a head injury and a brain stem injury due to drinking and driving 40 years ago.
The company brought on Lima and Blue in June when Lowe’s Canada opened its second location in Regina at the Northgate Mall.
Instantly, the duo became the talk of the town. Lowe’s human resources manager Maureen Lang said staff were very saddened by the news.
“Owen and Blue were definitely a dynamic duo. Everywhere they went, they inspired people. They just made people feel calm and Owen and Blue have been very much a part of our family,” Lang said.
Lima said he’s now trying to find out how to do his job without his best friend by his side.
“Love. Blue resembles love. He is love.”
On Wednesday, Lowe’s Canada tweeted that Blue the Dog was put down due to an illness. The company added that their thoughts are with Lima and all those who were touched by their inspiring story.