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ᴥ︎ NAYA THE NOMAD I Nathalie Mellaerts ☺︎︎

@nayatribe

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💖 dog mum with 10 dogs living our best life abroad
🐕 rescue • lifestyle • travel • pet loss 🌈
🍿 daily youtube videos ♡
⬇️DOG LONGEVITY EBOOK✨

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My heart left his earthly body 💫

Today I woke up in a world where Duvel was not laying next to my bed. I woke up in a world where the first thing I did was not giving him his eye drops. I woke up in a world where he won’t be bringing me his toys when I get home.

I sat on the floor crying, but he didn’t come to me with his head held low and a wagging tail. He didn’t offer me his furry neck to bury my sobbing face in. He didn’t bark at Takoda while I was making breakfast, and he didn’t do his little dance to tell me he needs to go outside.

I went on a walk, but I didn’t see his floppy ears in front of me. No one stopped to take in the view. When I called his name, nobody came. I looked for the eyes that always used to express all that I feel, but they were gone.

💔

We were supposed to have his checkup with the cardiologist today. I was convinced we’d be getting some positive news. Yesterday morning he had another tamponade. I rushed him to the ER and they drained only a little bit of fluid. They said he could go home or stay under observation, because he could stand but was weak, unlike last time after they drained it and he was all happy. There was no cardiologist present so they couldn’t interpret the size of the tumour itself, but my guess is that it had become a lot bigger and was pressing on the heart. I could see in his eyes that he was dying, so I took him home, still hoping I was wrong. We cuddled a lot, and he passed away some hours later.

♥️ My heart dog, light of my life 🌟 by @nayatribe

✨ Fun facts:

💖 I always wanted a big happy family and ended up creating it with my dogs
📚 I wrote 3 books and hope to write more in the future, the latest being an ebook about dog longevity, nutrition, supplements and lifestyle - you can find the link in my bio
🍿 I recently started vlogging on YouTube, and hope to throw a podcast into the mix at some point, but prior to this IG there was my blog (all links in bio)
🐶 I do all of this out of passion for my dogs, and because I always loved writing, photography and making videos, just being creative
🇪🇸 we currently live in Andalusia but will probably move countries again in the future
🚘 apart from my love for dogs, I have a love for cars - guess I’m a daddy’s girl after all
🐺 I take Naya everywhere, and now I usually also bring Twix and Pancake (the other dogs aren’t as outgoing and prefer staying at home)
🏡 you can book a stay with us through Airnb, I’m a super host & guest favourite - DM me if you’re interested!

I would love to get to know you 💕 Tell me about yourself :)

Thank you for being part of our tribe 🫶🏼 by @nayatribe

In loving memory of Nugget, da Nugs, Nuggedi Wuggedi, Nugsy Wugsy, lil monkey, ballalleke, nougatje, Nugget Dipsaus Rohof, chiwoiwoi, klein mannetje, balletje, lil baby, Nugzers, Nougatti, aapje, … ✨🧡🤍

You left too soon. I wasn’t done loving you. You were my little baby, now there is a nugget-shaped hole in my heart. 💔🪽

Thank you for the time we spent together. Even though it was cut short, it was one of the best times in my life. You brought me so much joy and made me feel so loved. I will always love you and never forget you Nugs. You will always have a special place in my heart. ♥️

I miss you so, so much. You’ve been my greatest heartbreak so far - which only shows how incredibly much I loved you (and still do). I’ll carry you with me everywhere I go. 💫 by @nayatribe

I’ve done the calculations and the math is mathing 😌 by @nayatribe

And yet people keep saying we look so much alike 😍 by @nayatribe

There’s something to be said about the aftermath of losing a special needs dog who lived alongside you through your entire twenties and halfway into your thirties.

A dog whose needs became part of your daily routine, whose wellbeing was woven into every decision you made, every plan you cancelled, every night you woke up, every sacrifice you never really considered a sacrifice.

And then, one day, they’re gone.

And you’re left with a life that suddenly has more freedom, but somehow feels infinitely emptier.

Because you’re not just grieving their absence. You’re grieving the routines, the responsibility, the constant awareness of another being who depended on you. You’re grieving a version of yourself that existed for over a decade.

You spent so many years organising your life around keeping them comfortable, safe and loved.

And now you have to figure out what life looks like when they no longer need you.

It’s a strange kind of heartbreak, to finally have the time you never wished to have.

💔 by @nayatribe

Happy birthday Papi 💖 22 years old 🥳

When I adopted you I thought I’d have you for some weeks, and here we are… 5 years later 😍

Despite everything you’ve been through, you’re the most wholesome dog I’ve ever had. Everybody who meets you immediately loves you 🥰

You’re getting really really old now, but you still make sure to always let me know what you want (even in the middle of the night 🤪). I’m pretty sure you arrived into our home and decided that you’d just live another lifetime to make up for all the hardship you went through 🥹

We ♥️ you

Update: everyone asking about Papi’s secret to longevity, I wrote everything down - link in bio 💖 by @nayatribe

Oh no no no no no by @nayatribe

Which one is yours? 😏 by @nayatribe

Who’s your animal soulmate? ♥️ Happy World Animal Day to the love of my life and all the animals that make our lives whole by @nayatribe

Happy heavenly birthday to my precious little girl 💖

You would’ve been 18 today

What a privilege it was to spend 17,5 years with you

So many countries we visited together, so many people we met (they all fell in love with you within seconds), so many beautiful moments shared (yet never enough)

You made me laugh with all of your crazy antics, you comforted me when I was sad

My Velcro dog, my shadow

I miss being loved by you

🤍 by @nayatribe

Nearly had a heart attack

Thanks for keeping us safe 😘 @furbopetcamera by @nayatribe