Daisy wasn’t just a dog. She was my shadow. For nearly 14 years, she followed me from room to room — through breakups, job changes, lockdowns, and late-night snacks. She had this habit of resting her head on my feet every time I sat on the couch, as if to say, “I’ve got you.”
She was a rescue. The day I brought her home, she was timid and shaking, with big, uncertain eyes. I didn’t know it then, but we were rescuing each other.
In January this year, Daisy passed peacefully in my arms after a long battle with arthritis and kidney disease. I didn’t realise how much space she took up in my world until it suddenly felt empty.
Scrolling through Instagram one night, I saw a post from Pawstralian — a pencil sketch of a golden retriever that looked so alive, so full of love, it stopped me in my tracks. I ordered one for Daisy the same night.
When it arrived, I cried. Not in a sad way, but like a wave of memory and gratitude just rushed in. The artist had captured the tilt of her head, that gentle smile she always wore, even the little speck of white in her left ear. It was her. Really her.
🎨 Was this story a reminder of your own furry friend?
At Pawstralian, we turn real pet stories into timeless portraits — joyful, silly, loyal, unforgettable.
Whether it’s a memory you never want to forget, or a face that makes you smile every day...
👉 Explore our custom pet portraits and see how your story could look as art.
🐶 View Portrait Styles →Now the sketch hangs in my hallway — the same hallway Daisy used to trot down to greet me at the door.
To anyone who’s lost a furry soulmate, I can’t recommend this enough. It helped me heal. It made me feel like Daisy was home again.
Thank you, Pawstralian. From the bottom of my heart.