This is a really sweet and sad story. Actress and singer Ashley Tisdale and her husband, Chris French, recently got tattoos in honor of their late dog, Maui, who passed away Friday.
Access made a video of photos and video of Ashley, Chris, and Maui:
The “High School Musical” alum and her husband got meaningful new tattoos this week, days after bidding a sad farewell to their furry friend, Maui. Ashely showed off the fresh ink on Instagram alongside a heartfelt caption, thanking the artist for helping keep the teacup Maltipoo “always with us.”
The 33-year-old announced Maui’s death in an emotional message over the weekend, calling the loss the “worst pain” she’s “ever felt.”
Ashely previously revealed while she was a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding earlier this month that the pup was suffering from sudden and severe health troubles.
Ashley posted on Instagram on Friday about Maui’s death, along with adorable photos. She wrote, in part:
I don’t even know how to say this. This pain is the worst pain I’ve ever felt. Maui was my soulmate, the connection was unlike any other. She didn’t care who I was and what I did, she just loved me unconditionally. @cmfrench and I knew with Maui she wasn’t just a dog she was something special. She had the purest soul. I know dogs don’t live as long as we do but why not? I wanted more time with her. I wasn’t ready for this and now I’m broken. I will miss you every single day of my life Maui, I will never forget how much joy and love you brought to me and @cmfrench.
[From Ashley Tisdale’s Instagram]
Ashley’s subsequent posts have all been about Maui, including a sweet photo of Ashley lying on her back and snuggling Maui against her under a blanket, and a photo of her and Chris’ tattoos. Chris got an outline of pawprint in brown on his left hand above the space between his thumb and index finger, and Ashley got “MAUI” tattooed in red on the inside of her right arm just underneath the bend of her elbow.
This is heartbreaking. According to the video, it seems that Ashely wasn’t at the hospital with Maui when she passed (Chris was), which I know must make Maui’s death even more excruciating. The video mentions that Ashley and Chris held a funeral for Maui, so I hope that helped Ashley. It’s heartbreaking to lose a beloved pet, and not something that you just “get over.” I hope that Ashley’s tattoo does make her feel like Maui is always with her, as she wrote with that picture. Celebitchy reminded me that Jennifer Aniston also got a tattoo to honor Norman, her beloved dog, after he passed away a few years back.
Photos credit: Backgrid, WENN and via Instagram
That’s adorable. I have a piece for my late dog too, I get it. It really hits you hard.
I lost my 10 year old labrador last year. I wish I hadnt been there to watch her die. She was my very very best friend, and she died in great pain because the (kind)doctor tried to save her instead of putting her down+ 45min drive to vet. It haunts me at nights. She deserved no pain, she was the greatest soul. I wish I had her paw print to tattoo.
RIP Maui. And RIP my girl.
I’m so sorry for your loss and your continued pain and guilt. Your post breaks my heart. Big hugs!
You were by her side tho. ❤️
Thank you for the sweet words.
I was by her side, yes. I kissed her head and had my arms around her when she died. But that guilt wont go. I have a puppy now, and if the same happens to him I will know and do better.
Omg, I can imagine the pain and guilt. Try not to dwell on the guilt. She knew you loved her, and I’m sure she was so much more comfortable that you were there. I think being there is the most important thing. I read a postsecret once by a vet’s assistant who said that when people don’t stay, the pet always looks for them. I can’t imagine the fear. You were there for her. I know it was painful to watch for you, but it was about her. That is the deal we make when we get pets! It’s made me wonder if I will be able to handle having another dog, because I don’t know what I will do when I lose my girl. I’m so sorry for your loss and your pain <3
Thank you for the kind words. The stuff about the vets assistant story means a lot. I Read before going on a 2hr drive, and I shed several tears thinking that my presence may have helped <3
Seeing a pet die is one of the most traumatic things I’ve ever been through – you’re left feeling so helpless and then replaying it in your head over and over. Sending love your way.
Ye, as painful as it was, I bet it meant so much to your girl that you were there with her. We had to say good by to my 16 year old dog last year, and the vet thanked us for staying with her as we said goodbye. I won’t go into detail, but the vet said that dogs know when their owners aren’t there and it makes things worse for them. She said many people just drop them off and leave to avoid the pain, but it is not good for the dogs. They are too smart for that.
My love to you and your family. Dogs are the best and losing them is devastating.
@Ye, I’m so sorry to read this. Warm Jedi hugs if accepted/wanted. At least she knew you loved her in the end, please know that’s a LOT.
I don’t really know who this is but I clicked on the story so fast because between a bit of sleep deprivation and scrolling too fast, I read the headline as “Ashley Tisdale and her dog got tattoos for her late husband”….
….I’m going to go get a coffee.
BAHAHAHAHAHA. OMG, this story made me so sad. I really needed that laugh. Thank you so much, Mia4s. You made my morning.
Ok, that photo of all three of them in shark costumes has broken me. I have a little dog that is 11 and I can’t bear to think of losing her. I will quite literally fall to pieces when she dies. I love my sweet Inky-doo! Thanks to John Oliver, she and I have been to the top of Mt. Everest, so at least we are making all the good memories we can while she’s still here 🙂
I teared up after reading this. RIP Maui.
Poor Ashley. This is a tough part of life. I don’t think it is ever easy to lose your pets. I do not have any tattoos — mostly because of fears of needles, pain, AND commitment — but I would do this. When I lost my soulmate cat almost 3 years ago, I was in agony. She had a heart attack right in front of me. I didn’t even make it across the room before she was gone. She was only 11 years old. I miss her Every. Single. Day. I’ve never had a pet that I connected with on such a deep level.
I got a bangle bracelet on Etsy that has her name on the outside and on the inside it says, “If love alone could have saved you, you would have lived forever.” I wear it every day. However someone wants to mourn a loss, you have to do what works for you.
About a year and a half ago, we put down our kitten Atlas who was maybe 8 or 9 months old. The ER vets told us a congenital brain defect was just starting to manifest. Turns out his brother, owned by a friend, had to be put down a couple weeks before. In a matter of days, he lost control of his legs, bowels, and sight. It seemed like it hurt him to move. This is not how that’s supposed to work, you know? He was just a baby. He’s supposed to live a long life and then we have all these memories of him. We’d only had him, and his biological sister, for about six months. These two were so bonded, it just sucked to see how lonely Sonoma was. Most nights we’d be on the couch, a cat in each lap. Now she was alone. We ended up getting a new kitten pretty quickly, she was so lonely, and we wanted them to grow up together. His name is Alexander and he’s great. But her personality is different because of their dynamic, he’s the alpha when she was before. Just about every day I think what he would’ve looked like full-grown, how his personality would’ve developed, whether he would’ve liked the screened-in porch our cats love. Even if you don’t have them a long time, they make such an imprint on our hearts.
P.s. we donated his body to the local university med school, they performed an autopsy to try to figure out how this happened. Turns out he actually had an incurable virus. We still got his ashes (the ground had been frozen for months so we couldn’t bury him, which was what we wanted) and feel like something not-awful came out of his death. Donate your animals if you can, it could help others in the future!
*animal med school. We have a Big 10 university in our town with a great veterinary program.
I feel every fiber of her pain.
Ny 7-year old son-dog is a complete and total human to me, and the thought that he will one day no longer walk this earth is unbearable. I’m currently in the throes of the end of a 30-year relationship, and his soulful face and peaceful companionship give me more comfort than I can describe. Prayers for Ashley and her grief.
Im crying reading this. My cat is 18 and we have been through SO MUCH in our 17+ yrs together. He had his first surgery yesterday (lumpectomy), he’s slowing way, down, getting creaky, going grey, getting lumps, losing teeth…. I try to focus on the pure joy he still brings to my life, but I cannot comprehend the day he’ll be gone, which may be soon. Losing a pet is a unique pain, because it’s a bond that goes beyond language. I like her tattoos – I’ve often thought about getting a tattoo of my cat, but I want to do it before he passes so the tattoo artist can know him, and so the kitty can watch!
Hugs to everyone who is dealing with the loss of a pet. We lost our cat in September and it has been rough. I don’t say this lightly – it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever been through.
It really is hard. Hugs right back at you.