A dog owner who accidentally captured a final selfie taken with his pet has melted hearts online this week.
8-year-old Doberman Ruby lived in Clayton, California, with her owner Charles Lindsey. Lindsey has shared the journey with his canine companion on social media across TikTok and Instagram.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) says that the Doberman Pinscher is the 16th most popular dog breed in the U.S. Recognized as a breed in 1908, the sleek and powerful pups are famed for their muscular physique and intelligence.
Ruby’s particularly distinctive zipper nose sets her out from the crowd. “Zipper nose” refers to when a dog has a line of raised hair on the bridge of its nose that looks a little like a mohawk.
With millions of followers across social media, Ruby’s life was followed by people around the world who saw her as the perfect example of the breed.
Owner and photographer Lindsey took pictures of Ruby’s stunning features to share with followers, with the pup loving having her photo taken.
But on August 2, 2022, tragedy struck when Ruby lost her life to canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). A primary disease of the heart that results in decreased ability to pump blood through the system, the condition is more common in predisposed breeds including the Doberman Pinscher, the Great Dane, the Boxer, and the Cocker Spaniel.
Ruby had been living with DCM for some time, and Lindsey used their platform to share not only information about the Doberman breed but also increase awareness of the condition.
Earlier this week, Lindsay shared a now-viral clip captured accidentally on his video doorbell camera while taking his final selfie with his cherished pup.
With more than 1.8 million views, Lindsay’s video was posted with the caption: “This video will be cherished forever. It’s our last selfie together and the only behind-the-scenes video I have of our selfies.”
In the video, Lindsay and Ruby pose together on the steps outside the house for a beautiful selfie just four days before her death.
In thousands of comments, TikTok users rushed to share their condolences after the death of Ruby.
“Sorry for your loss,” said one comment: “I’m so happy you have such a beautiful moment caught on video forever.”
“You can just see how much she loved you,” said another reply.
Another TikTok user and follower said: “I am so sorry to hear Ruby has passed she is and always will be beautiful thank you for bringing Ruby and yourself into our lives.”
Newsweek has reached out to Charles Lindsey for comment.
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