For years, Jamieson McCormack and her beloved dog Simon shared a simple tradition that meant everything.
They would stop at a small donut shop in Vancouver and order Simon’s favorite treat — a plain, dog-friendly donut.
Then they’d head to a nearby park, where Simon, affectionately known as Jamieson’s “little orange loaf,” would happily nibble pieces of the donut while completing a lap around a 5K walking loop.
But the treats were never the best part.
Simon loved the people.
He loved the dogs.
He loved the community.
“He loved walking beside other dogs and getting to see everyone,” McCormack said. “It was his favorite thing in the world.”
But in March, everything changed.
Simon was diagnosed with histiocytic sarcoma — an aggressive and devastating cancer. Despite months of treatment and hope, the disease continued to spread.
After six months, McCormack received the news every pet parent fears.
Simon didn’t have much time left.
Instead of spending his final days in sadness, McCormack decided to give Simon something he had always given everyone else: joy.
She planned one last donut walk — a goodbye celebration where Simon could share his favorite treat with all the friends he had made over the years.
Word spread quickly through Vancouver’s close-knit dog community.
People who had walked with Simon.
People whose dogs had played beside him.
Even people who had only heard stories about the gentle orange pup.
They all wanted to be there.
Community members helped fund Simon’s farewell through a GoFundMe campaign that covered his medical bills and the cost of the party. But more important than the donations was the love that showed up that day.
Dozens of people gathered to celebrate Simon.
And Simon?
He was happy.
“He looked so happy the entire time,” McCormack said.
Many of the people attending had known Simon for years, but some were meeting him for the first time. Still, they all understood the moment they saw him — there was something special about this dog.
“Something about more people remembering him is really comforting,” McCormack said.
Simon had a gentle spirit that seemed to sense when someone needed comfort.
At the park, he would sometimes approach a stranger quietly and sit beside them. Then, after a moment, he’d place a paw on their leg — a simple gesture McCormack lovingly called “the Simon paw.”
Time and time again, the person would later share that they were going through something difficult — and that Simon had somehow made them feel a little less alone.
His gift wasn’t just for people.
Simon had a remarkable connection with other dogs, especially those who struggled. Nervous dogs, reactive dogs, traumatized dogs — Simon seemed to find them all.
Instead of overwhelming them, he simply existed beside them until they felt safe.
“They’d find each other,” McCormack said. “And they’d just be puppies together.”
Simon’s life hadn’t always been so joyful.
When McCormack first adopted him from Adopt Korean Dogs, he was deeply afraid. Found wandering the streets at around 3 years old, he likely had been abandoned.
Loud noises made him flinch.
Sudden movements made him cower.
It took patience, gentleness and years of love for Simon to truly feel safe.
But once he did, he blossomed into a dog who spent the rest of his life giving that same comfort to others.
“I’m grateful that I got to give him that life,” McCormack said.
Simon passed away on October 20 — just days after his donut-filled farewell celebration.
In the end, he was surrounded by exactly what he loved most: his people, his dog friends and the community he had quietly built one gentle paw at a time.
And somewhere in Vancouver’s parks, people still remember the sweet orange dog who walked beside them — sharing donuts, comfort and a little bit of peace.
