When Daniel Hove faced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, family and friends provided assistance to the Air Force veteran turned assistant fire chief during this challenging period. However, none was as supportive as Daniel's faithful companion, Gunner, an 11-year-old lab who seldom strayed from his owner's side.
Images from Daniel's last years depict the devoted dog nestled by his bedside and curled up on his lap, despite his 90-pound size. Regardless of the circumstances, Gunner ensured he remained just inches away.
They were inseparable till the end," Heather Nicoletti, Daniel's daughter, told Kare 11. "They were hunting partners, they went everywhere together." So, it came as no surprise that when Daniel was bedridden, his loyal dog also fell ill.
"When my dad was agitated, the dog mirrored it; when my dad was restless, the dog was too," his daughter recalled, reflecting on how her father and Gunner had always been in perfect sync. "When my dad became unresponsive, the dog did as well. So, once we noticed the decline in the dog's condition—him hardly moving, not doing well—we knew the inevitable was approaching.
One day, as the elderly dog became increasingly lethargic, and his limbs swelled, Heather realized it was time to make the heartbreaking decision to put Gunner to rest. "I called the vet clinic I used to work at," she recounted, "they saw me promptly, and I rushed him there for euthanasia. About an hour and a half later, my dad passed away too."
Despite the profound grief of losing her father—a devoted parent, dedicated veteran, cherished community member, and a guiding presence for all who crossed his path—Heather found solace in the fact that her father, at least, didn't have to bid farewell to his beloved dog. Such a separation would have been equally devastating for Gunner, who could never stand to be far from his dearest human companion.
"I had wondered which would be more traumatic for him," Heather remarked. "Taking him away to end his suffering through euthanasia or having him live through my dad's passing. Either way, it was going to be incredibly hard on him. We understood they would go together; we just didn't anticipate it would be within hours."
"Gunner couldn't bear to be without my dad," Heather added. "I believe he chose to go with him."
