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Walter, I’ve Pet That Dog mascot and inspiration, has died

By Wesley Coburn

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 17: CJ, the German Shorthaired Pointer and winner of the 2016 Westminster Kennel Club Winner Visits One World Observatory at One World Trade Center on February 17, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 17: CJ, the German Shorthaired Pointer and winner of the 2016 Westminster Kennel Club Winner Visits One World Observatory at One World Trade Center on February 17, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images) /
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Walter, the mascot and inspiration of the I’ve Pet That Dog project, has died.

Walter, the inspiration behind the I’ve Pet That Dog project, has died. The cause of death is not currently known.

Walter lived in Iowa and was the pet of Gideon, a boy whose mission to pet all the dogs has made a huge impact on brightening the landscape of Twitter and Instagram. He was at least 10 years old in human years, meaning he was at least 64 in dog years.

This news was announced on the I’ve Pet That Dog social media pages Monday afternoon.

“Goodbye, Walter. You were my best friend,” Gideon posted. “You were the best dog. I love you and will miss you.”

“I am so so sorry,” Bunsen the Science Dog replied on hearing the news. “Our hearts are breaking that you lost your friend. Our whole family is thinking of you. It’s unfair that dogs can’t live as long as humans.”

The Dog O’Day staff agrees with that sentiment.

“Hugs from all of us,” the Golden Ratio replied.

Many GIFs of dogs hugging each other or humans and clips from Monsters, Inc followed as Dog Twitter shared in the collective grief of the situation.

“Losing a pet can leave significant voids in our life,” the magazine Scientific American said in a 2018 article titled “Why We Need to Take Pet Loss Seriously,” because of the jarring disruption of our normal daily routine, which can result in a variety of difficult symptoms like higher depression, anxiety and loneliness.

Walter was the first dog that Gideon pet when he started the I’ve Pet That Dog journey in September 2018, which was originally a blog.

Gideon and Matt Nelson of WeRateDogs teamed up during the AKC National Championship last December, providing a lot of content that was 14/10 h*cking good.

The WeRateDogs profile picture, named Pippin, also died earlier this year. Pippin was one of several mascots for the brand.

WeRateDogs also helped Gideon set up an online collection on their online store for wonderful I’ve Pet That Dog merch, which can be found here.

Appropriate, Walter was made the official I’ve Pet That Dog logo.

Gideon was recently one of the judges for the 2018 Beautiful Bulldog Contest at Drake University, a canine beauty pageant for Bulldogs held yearly to determine the dog of honor during the Drake Relays, one of the most prestigious track and field meets in the country.

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Gideon will be taking a break from petting dogs and posting pupdates for several days, which is highly understandable.

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