AN ABERDEEN couple’s heartwarming tribute to their dog has left Scots touched.
Jim and Moira Mapley’s beloved Ruby, a miniature schnauzer Jack Russell cross, passed away at the age of 13 on Tuesday.
Acting quickly to set up an appropriate legacy for their pooch, 76-year-old Jim came up with the idea of leaving a selection of balls, which she loved to play with, on her favourite walking route.
The couple’s daughter Carol Mapley, 48, shared a picture to social media yesterday of the bag of balls placed on a bench by the River Dee in Aberdeen.
Aptly named Ruby was a gift from Carol to Jim and his wife Moira, 74, for their ruby wedding anniversary in 2011.
Ruby’s family were with her when she died, and Carol admits it has been a difficult time for them with Jim, still in his usual routine, heading down to their garden at bedtime even though their pooch wasn’t there.
However, it was there that he came up with his plan and shared it with his wife on his return.
Carol says Ruby would often manage to find a ball while on her walks and insist on bringing them home.
She became a familiar face on the riverside route, so it seemed like there was no better place for the couple to leave them than where her friends could find them.
The picture shows a colourful carrier bag left on the bench, next to a homemade sign taped to the wood.
It features a picture of Ruby and reads: “Please help yourselves and enjoy these balls as Ruby did.”
Carol shared the touching scene to social media yesterday with the caption: “Mum and dad have put all Ruby’s balls on a bench on her favourite walk so that other doggos can play with them now and I’m going to need a minute.”
The post has since received over 10,000 likes and more than 320 comments from Scots sharing their reactions.
One wrote: “What poignant gesture in the absolute celebration of a dog who lived their best life and clearly were loved to bits.
“I think they take a piece of our soul and when they leave, they take it with them which is rightly why it hurts so much.”
A second said: “Aw, that’s lovely. Lost my lad a month ago and I’m still opening doors and expecting him to come in and lie on my feet.”
Another commented: “Jeez. This made me tear up and I don’t even know Ruby.”
A fourth said: “Your parents are kind people. I bet they gave Ruby a wonderful life. I am very sorry for your loss.”
Another added: “We took all of our boy’s tennis balls and threw them in various places where we used to walk him, he used to love it when he’d find one. I’m sorry for your loss.”
Speaking today, Carol said: “She was very well known and very popular on her walking route so it seemed fitting to leave them there where her friends would find them.
“Despite my dad’s initial shock at her arrival, they were all inseparable within minutes and remained that way for her 13 years here.
“An eternal puppy, full of mischief, stealer of socks, bringer of joy and love and spoiled rotten.”
