Saying goodbye to a pet is devastating - but knowing they're no longer in pain makes it easier to manage. But one woman's heartache returned after spotting her late dog relaxing on her porch way on Google Maps one year after he passed away.
While she says seeing him again made her smile, it also reignited her grief, leaving her struggling to come to terms with her loss for a second time. Taking to Reddit, she said: "I caught my dog chilling in the main entrance of my house on Google Maps. It's been over a year since he passed away.
"I gasped when I saw him and shed a tear out of happiness and bittersweet. It's a beautiful moment captured by Google." While most users shared their sympathies with the woman, others praised Google Maps for 'immortalising' him in the 'real world'.
Commenting on her post, one user said: "He still protects."
Another user added: "I'm sorry for your loss. Seeing stuff like this is so bittersweet."
A third user said: "My three dogs - two of which passed away recently - are chilling outside my door on Google Maps. I love it."
One more user added: "Sorry for your loss! This is must have been awesome to come across."
Google Maps launched in February 2005 as a "new solution to help people get from point A to point B". It is now used by more than one billion people all over the world every month.
They randomly schedules cars to come around, possibly to guard against people from performing stunts when it's on route, and update their satellite images every one to three years.
Most recently, it announced its Live View, which helps users better navigate the world around them by providing them with arrows and directions clearly overlaid on their maps.
A Google Maps statement reads: "We launched Google Maps as a useful way to help people get around.
"As we've added features and capabilities, Google Maps has evolved into much more than a website that gives you turn-by-turn directions.
"Today, it's a gateway to exploring the world—both digitally and in real life, on foot or by car, via public transit or a wheelchair.
"The world is constantly changing, and so is the way we get around in it. And as it does, Google Maps will be there every step of the way, building new tools that help you navigate, explore and get things done, wherever you are."
Do you have a dog story to share? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.
