Marnie the Shih Tzu became famous thanks to her heartwarming rescue story and adorable expressions. Dog lovers all over the world fell in love with her and felt like they knew her personally. It was all thanks to her adorable photos and videos on social media. It was clear that her health was declining, but no one was prepared to lose her. Sadly, on March 5th, 2020, Marnie the beloved Instagram star passed away at 18 years old.
Marnie’s Rise to Fame
When Marnie was 10 years old, she was found as a stray wandering the streets of Connecticut. She was extremely smelly and matted, and she didn’t seem to have a family of her own. Animal control moved her to a shelter where they first named her Stinky, which she was not a fan of. Luckily, 4 months later, she was adopted and given the life she deserved.
Shirley Braha took one look at 11-year-old Marnie and fell in love. She adopted her and gave her a new name and a new life. Braha soon learned that Marnie was so stinky because she had 14 decaying teeth. After those teeth were extracted, Marnie was happier than ever. Plus, she smelled nicer too!
Right away, Braha knew that Marnie didn’t look like every other dog. The little Shih Tzu’s tongue always stuck out of her mouth and her head was always tilted. The head tilt was the result of Vestibular Syndrome, but the tongue was simply because her tongue was too long to fit in her mouth! To some people, these features might seem odd, but many dog lovers fell in love with her unique look.
Braha never intended for her new pup to be a social media star, but Marnie became famous in no time. Marnie got to go on lots of new adventures, so Braha posted about them on social media. Soon Marnie had tons of followers eagerly waiting to see more updates on her exciting life!
Changing the World One Post at a Time
Marnie’s Instagram had about 1.8 million followers on it. However, her social media presence was about so much more than just popularity. Marnie was an inspiration to dog lovers all over the world. Braha wanted to show everyone how amazing adopting a senior dog can be!
Marnie inspired many fans to open their hearts to senior dogs too. Many people fear that adopting a senior dog means less time with that dog, but Marnie and Braha showed them how amazing life with a senior dog really is. Marnie was such a happy and adventurous dog all because Braha gave her a second chance at life.
“When I hear from people that Marnie has made them adopt their senior dogs it’s truly the most beautiful legacy she and I could hope to leave in this world,” wrote Braha.
Even though Marnie was 11 years old when she was adopted, she still got to live a long life with her new mom. Braha doesn’t know much about Marnie’s past life, but what mattered most was that the rest of her time was worth it. Marnie had a great life, and she lived all the way until 18 years old!
A Beautiful Farewell
Nearly everyone is heartbroken about the news of Marnie’s passing. Braha made a long, emotional post on Marnie’s social media after she passed away. She explained that Marnie passed away ‘painfully and peacefully’. However, that won’t make us miss her any less.
“It is with much grief I share the news that Marnie passed away painlessly & peacefully in my home on Thursday afternoon at the age of 18,” wrote Braha. “Her comfort had been notably declining over the past few days with little hope for improvement and she let me know she had had enough. She enjoyed her chicken until the very end.”
Braha went on to thank fans for their support and kindness throughout Marnie’s life. She never expected that one little dog could touch so many lives, but Marnie truly made a difference.
Marnie will be buried in a pet cemetery in Los Angeles. There will be a public memorial gathering to celebrate her, so keep an eye on her Instagram page for details. Marnie truly was an exceptional dog, and she will never be forgotten. Please continue to adopt dogs, especially senior dogs, in honor of this amazing Shih Tzu.
H/T: people.com
Featured Image: @marniethedog/Instagram
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