While out for a walk with her Pomeranian, Stanley, in their Nashville neighborhood, Megan Clemens noticed something taped to a telephone pole. From a distance, it looked like the kind of “lost pet” sign she always stopped to read — just in case she could help.
But as she approached, the words hit her with unexpected emotion.
“At first glance, I thought it was a missing dog poster,” Clemens told The Dodo. “Then I started reading, and my heart just sank — but in the most bittersweet way. It brought tears to my eyes.”
The dog in the photo was Buster — a familiar golden retriever Clemens had often seen during her walks. An older dog with a gentle spirit, Buster always made time to greet passersby, tail wagging and eyes bright.
“Buster was one of those dogs you couldn’t help but stop for,” Clemens said. “He loved people just as much as he loved other dogs. Just the sweetest soul.”
But instead of a plea for help finding a missing pet, the poster was a tribute — a moving memorial from Buster’s owner, Elizabeth King, to the dog who had been her constant companion since he was just 7 weeks old.
The sign read:
“Loved Dog: Buster.
To know Buster was to love Buster, and boy did I love him.
Buster loved the water, running, playing ball, plush toys, avocados, chicken, meeting new friends (dogs and people), but best of all, Buster loved me.
He always forgave me, always comforted me (even when he was sick), protected me, accepted me, and always stood by my side.
May you find a love that does the same.”
It was a message that stopped Megan — and many other neighbors — in their tracks.
King had raised Buster for nearly a decade, sharing everything from morning walks to life’s hardest moments. Even after Buster was diagnosed with cancer last spring, he stayed close by her side, offering comfort and strength in the way only a devoted dog can.
“He still went on walks with me and made sure I was OK,” King told The Dodo. “I was trying to be strong for him, but he was still the one giving me strength.”
After Buster passed, King wanted a way to let the community — who had come to know and love him — know about his passing. She remembered once seeing a man post a “Loved” dog sign after losing his pup and knew it was the perfect way to honor Buster’s memory.
Now, the sign stands not as a notice of loss, but as a celebration of the kind of love that leaves an imprint — the kind that makes you feel seen, safe, and endlessly accepted.
“I want people to know they’re worthy of that kind of love,” King said. “Even if it comes from a dog — especially from a dog — it can change your life.”
