Dog trainer saw man walking daily with just a dog leash and no dog — the reason why left her in tears

Losing a pet is not only heartbreaking, but it also creates an irreplaceable void in one's everyday life. Jerri Scherff (@sailorjerrithedogtrainer), a member of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) Board of Directors, experienced just that when she saw a man in her neighborhood walking alone with a leash, but no dog in sight. She bumped into him daily but never found the courage to confront him. However, one fine day, curiosity got the best of Scherff as she finally approached the man to clear her confusion, but his heartbreaking reason left her in tears instead. She shared the incident on April 24, and her video had received over 12 million views on her Instagram.

'I just miss him.' 

Schreff, who had recently lost her dog, Enzo, asked the man if he had gone through something similar. He did not reply verbally, but only nodded in agreement. Watching his reaction, Schreff broke down and immediately hugged him. The bereaved man shared that people mock him for carrying the dog leash, but they don't understand how much he misses his dog. Schreff had never spoken to the man before, but as a grieving pet parent, she understood his pain and grief. "He said, 'Everybody makes fun of me for it, but I just miss him,'" Schreff recalled, trying to suppress her tears. 

Towards the end of the video, Scherff attached a photo of her dog, Enzo, who passed away on March 27, 2026. He was seven years old, and she called him her best friend. Knowing the kind of hurt the man is carrying, Schreff added that she now makes sure to pray for his peace and wave at him every time she sees him. "I could see it on his face how much he loved that dog. In this way, we are very much the same," she wrote in the caption.

How long does pet grief last?

The emotional impact of losing a pet can be different for everyone. It usually depends on the period spent with the pet, the level of emotional attachment, and the circumstances under which they passed. In fact, a study of 82 pet parents (cited on Health Central) found that 25% of owners took 3 months to a year, while 50% mourned between 12 and 19 months. Another 25% of respondents took 2 to 6 years to get over their grief. The study further explains why both Schreff and the man who walked the street with his dog's leash had a tough time dealing with their loss. 

Meanwhile, pet lovers and owners gathered in the comment section to offer support and share stories about their own pets. For instance, @dogsensetraining commented, "That moment would have meant so much to him. You’re a good human." @corinne_blackstonecrafts wrote, "Sometimes it’s the strangers who understand the pain we feel the most. They don’t know us or judge us. They just grieve along with us."

You can follow Jerri Schreff (@sailorjerrithedogtrainer) for pet-related content.

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