Our pets hold special places in our hearts โ even after theyโve moved on. We often grow up with a special pet that in some ways, defines our childhood. Throughout their whole life, they give us love and never ask for anything in return (well, maybe a treat or some cheese now and again).
Growing up with a pet is an amazing thing, so we rounded up some of the best โbefore and afterโ examples of people with their furry friends. Beware, this might get emotional!
1. โMy 8th Birthday present, Kimba, is now 16 years old.โ
This cat used to hate being picked up, and judging by her expression she still does now! This grumpy old girl has been best friends with her owner since she was eight years old, so theyโve well and truly grown up together. The pair must have such a special bond.


2. โMy cat and me 14 years ago and todayโ
How sweet that this super-sassy kitten grew into, well, a super-sassy adult. Fourteen years later, and we love that this pair still cuddle up together for a nap. Thereโs really nothing more precious than taking a nap with your pet.


3. 10 Years Goes By Fast
Can we just talk about how this dog doesnโt seem to have aged at all? Aside from his face becoming a little more orange, (which could just be a trick of the light) this gorgeous boy has stayed pretty much exactly the same! Does anyone know what anti-aging cream he uses?
Itโs so sweet that his owners still have the same collar and leash for him. Some things never change.


4. โMy Connie: 6 weeks old and 9 years oldโ
She might be much bigger now, but this springer spaniel is still game for cuddles. We love how her beautiful markings have stayed almost exactly the same. Nine years later and her owner still loves her just as much as the day she brought her home.


5. โFrom the first day to the last day I ever saw my boy Tobyโ
We love to see how this pooch transformed from a nervous little pup to a happy adult dog who had truly lived his best life. Thatโs exactly what happens when a dog grows up in a caring family, and we can tell this fur baby was well-loved. How beautiful that he was still smiling in some of his last moments here on earth.


6. โStill his favorite spot after 7 years!โ
Forget romance, we want a dog who looks at us the way this sweet pit bull looks at his owner. After seven years together, he still has his favorite spot and his owner knows better than to not let him have his way. No matter how heavy your dog gets, if they want cuddles, then they get cuddles!


7. 15 years apart
Fifteen years is a good lifetime of snuggles and love, and the original poster reassures us that, โI know sheโs not ready to leave me any time soon!โ
We love how as the girl has grown, so has her kitty! Heโs always been the perfect fit for snuggling up in her arms, and their bond is clear for everyone to see.


8. 1998-2018
This squishy floof started off big and fluffy, and twenty years later, sheโs still big and fluffy! Cats are known for living into their late teens and early twenties (why else do you think they have nine lives?) but weโre amazed at how youthful this kitty is still looking at twenty years old. If we had a cat that fluffy, weโd never stop cuddling her.


9. โLil guy wouldnโt let me hold him this year, but hereโs another year later!โ
The fully grown pooch clearly was thinking about his dadโs back when he refused to be picked up for the third photo. Despite growing over three times his size, this pooch has aged like a fine wine and is still looking as beautiful as ever! Believe it or not, this big guy is only just over two years old. Next year, the dog will be holding the guy.


10. โOur dachshund, Roofus, is 11 years old now and still the goodest boy.โ
The thing with dachshunds is that theyโre quite a small breed of dog, meaning that not much growing is required from when they are a puppy. Thatโs certainly the case with Roofus, whose name weโre obsessed with by the way. This little guy has barely grown at all, and the only obvious changes are the hints of gray in his fur. But you know what they say: He may be grayer, but heโs a stayer!


11. Recreating a 15 Year Old Picture To Say Goodbye
It seems like the bigger this dog grows, the happier he gets. Look at that sleek fur! Itโs heart-breaking that his owners had to say goodbye to him, but it wonโt be goodbye forever.


12. โThe First And Last Night With My Pup. Rest In Peace.โ
How sweet is it to look at this first pic and see the little boy and his pup with their whole lives ahead of them. That journey may now have come to an end for this sweet pooch, but he lived a rich and happy life with his owners. Weโre not crying, itโs just our allergies.


13. โThis is Brandy and I on her first birthday, and 14 years later on her fifteenth.โ
We donโt know about anyone else, but the first thing we noticed about these two pics was how the pair seemed to swap facial expressions for the second photo. Most people feel a little sad about growing older, so it melts our hearts to see that that fourteen years later, this sweet pup has only become happier! Thereโs so much joy in these pictures.


14. 3 years of friendship
The dogโs facial expression in the first pic seems to say, โitโs hard work raising kids,โ but the obvious love shared in the second snap makes it all worth it. If this is the pairโs bond after three years, we canโt even imagine what it will be like in years to come. Dogs really are one of the best companions.


15. Then and Now.
Isnโt it adorable that like humans, animals can also go gray when they age? We think his gray fur makes him look like a distinguished old gentleman, and we love how this old boy still has time for kisses with his owner. You can tell that theyโve been friends for life.


16. Best Friends Since 1997
These posts are making us believe that dogs really do become even happier as they grow. This old boy looks like he learned how to smile from his owner! These are truly pictures to be cherished.


17. True Love, 13 years later.
We love the fact that thirteen years later, itโs clear that the little boy has grown into a man โ but meanwhile, the pup remains as cute and fluffy as ever. Have you ever seen a more adorable dog? We could cuddle up with this little floof for hours!


18. โMy Dog And I, 1998 And 2012โ
Whatโs funny about these two pics is that while the girlโs hair ended up darker, her poochโs fur began to get lighter! His smile also grew bigger, which once again confirms our theory that dogs get happier as they age. How are dogs so darn photogenic? We need to take some tips.


19. โ11 years makes a big differenceโ
We love how this guy was so committed to recreating the same picture that he even dug out the exact same pair of shorts for the snap. Heโs finally grown into his shorts, just like his sweet pooch who has finally grown into those ears! If we had a dog that fluffy, we would cuddle him all day.


20. โSomeone dear to me passed away today. This is my best friend Genevieve, on the first day we met, and the last day.โ
Boy, it is getting emotional in here. It seems painfully unfair that humans can live on until their eighties, nineties, or even hundreds, whilst dogโs life spans are significantly shorter. But nevertheless, itโs amazing to see just how much these fur babies enjoy the short time that they have. We have no doubts that Genevieve had a great life.


21. โ17 years with my beautiful pupโ
He might be an old boy, but he still loves his basket and his owner with all his heart. Although his mom is unable to fit in his basket anymore, sheโs always close by for cuddles or petting. The family is hoping that he lives a little longer, but not for reasons that you may be thinking of!
โWeโre hoping she makes it to 18, then she can move out and start contributing to society! Hahaโ, the OP joked.


22. Best Friends Since 1999
Over 20 years later, and this cat still has the exact same opinion on being picked up. According to the owner, this kitty lived a full and happy life until twenty years old, so she really did make the most of those nine lives! What a beautiful little ball of floof.


23. โSame boy, same dog, same couchโฆ 16 years apart.โ
Like the couch, some things donโt need an upgrade, and this pup was staying close by his ownerโs side for life. They say that owners start to look like their dogs, and thatโs certainly the case for this pair. Those luscious locks that the man is sporting in the second pic have a strong resemblance to his poochโs fur, and weโre living for it!


24. โ17 years later, Dodger the doxie is on his way to outlive the whole family.โ
Why does it look like if anything, this adorable pup seems to get smaller? We have to give this guy some credit for successfully recreating that outfit as well โ who knew that 17 years later, heโd still have the same fashion sense?


25. โโฆand in between, 13 years of the best dog a kid could ever have.โ
This is meant to be a cute pet pic, but all we can think about is that guyโs hair. How is it so shiny? Is there a special kind of shampoo to give it volume like that? We need answers.
But also, the dog is totally adorable.


26. โFirst moments and last moments with Bluto, 15 years apart.โ
These two pictures really caught us right in the feels. After fifteen happy years, how beautiful that this fur baby was surrounded by such love in his final moments. Dogs are truly a big part of the family.


27. 16 Year Difference
The only obvious change in these two pictures is that the OP got herself a pair of glasses! Her little guy may not have grown, but the grey patch around that sweet little tongue shows that heโs now a mature gentleman. Heโll always be the perfect size for cuddles.


28. โMy daughter and our dog โ 12 years later.โ
This old guy has just turned fifteen, and next to his owner he looks as if heโs shrunk! How adorable that these two had such a close relationship even when his owner was just a little girl. A dogโs love really is eternal.


29. โThe day we got our puppy, and 11 years laterโ
The fact that these three sisters still kept their helmet is the best thing in the world. We have to say, the pics where a lot of effort has been put into recreating the old one are our favorite of them all. The facial expressions and the outfits are on point!


30. โMy dog and I, 11 years apart.โ
This picture is special in more than one way. Not only did the pair grow up together, but this guyโs puppy helped him through his transition into becoming the person who he was always meant to be. Now theyโre rocking identical beards, and weโre living for it!


31. โSheโll bite they saidโฆ9 months later still only kisses.โ
Nine months is a relatively short period of time, but for a baby, itโs the time where they do a lot of their growing. Just look how the picture has transformed from the dog cuddling his human brother to the little boy cuddling his dog. Who says you shouldnโt let your dogs be around babies?


32. โMy dog Midas and myself after a decade togetherโ
This chonky boy has always been a struggle to carry, and even now that his owner is a fully grown man, things havenโt got any easier! You have to have arms of steel to hold a dog of that size, so itโs no wonder his expression is a pretty serious concentration face. We love how the painting of the papaya made it into the second pic as well.


33. โMy best friend for the past 15 years.โ
Hereโs another pup who eventually grew into his ears! Dogs really are creatures of habit, and fifteen years later he still sleeps in the exact same spot. What a sweet old boy.


34. โI had to put my first dog down last week after 14 years of wonderful companionship, RIP Docker.โ
14 years later, and this old guy still loves to read a book with his owner. When your dog passes away, they leave a dark and empty space in your heart for a while. But knowing that they were truly loved and that they had a long and happy life with you makes things just that little bit easier.


35. โI saw the 9-year friendship, decided to share my 15-year friendship! Meet Monty!โ
Same shorts, same shirt (almost), same backyard and same dog, fifteen years later! Although his pupโs health is sadly deteriorating, the original poster says โI will adore looking back at the 15 years of memories.โ How precious! Weโre glad theyโve had so many good years together.


36. โWe recreated our favorite photo with himโ
Childhood photos are always difficult to recreate. Youโll look at your former self and wonder why on earth you were pulling that facial expression, or who decided to dress you in that bright yellow dress. So itโs safe to say that these sisters did a brilliant job of recreating their childhood pic โ though of course, the dog was the star of the show!


37. โMy best friend and me 10 years ago and now.โ
Old or young, one thing will never change about dogs: they will always want to eat your snacks. His old man belly is the proof he did manage to get a few of those Cheetos in the last 10 years. A life well-lived, weโd say.


38. โThe Day We Said Hello And The Day We Said Goodbyeโ
Someoneโs being chopping onions again, because this post is making us feel all the emotions. You can tell from the guyโs expression in the second photo just how much his fur baby means to him. How beautiful that he managed to capture those special first and last days on camera, though.


39. โMe and my weenie 13 years apart.โ
Thirteen years later, and this dachshundโs loyalty to his owner never wavered. His fur may be going gray and it may be harder to walk as far as he used to, but he will always be able to give good cuddles.


40. โThis is my old dog Lucy. The first photo is the first day we met, the last photo was a couple weeks before she passed away at 16.โ
This old girl is here to show us that a dogโs love never dies; it only grows. The pic was taken just a couple of weeks before she passed, but this fur baby still looks so happy. Dogs will always do their best to get as much enjoyment out of life as possible โ something us humans should try and live by!


41. โ20 years later and still going strong.โ
This guy is so lucky to experience twenty magical years with his dog, and doesnโt he still look so healthy! Thereโs nothing like the bond that you form with your first pet. Itโs something that he will cherish for life.


42. โMy lifelong companion and friend, Wicket, turns 13 this week. Pics taken in 2001 and 2014.โ
Out of all of the pictures weโve seen so far, weโd say that this gorgeous pair have certainly changed the most! The sweet little Yorkie has never been too good at looking at the camera, but luckily, heโs totally adorable so he gets away with it!


43. โMy Very First And Very Last Day With My Dog, Cocoโ
This adorable before and after shows just how much things can change. From little kids with their furry friend, to teenagers with and the passing of a friend. Itโs never easy, but the memories are worth it.


44. โOn The First Day Together, And On The Last. He Was A Real Homieโ
In the first, we see the dog asleep while keeping his friend warm and safe. In the second, we see a man keeping his dog warm and safe while he sleeps. The roles reversed, but the love is the same.


45. โ18 Years Apartโ
Eighteen years is a very long time for a dog. This man has been with his friend for quite some time. Look at how much things have changed, while some things havenโt.


46. โMy Dog And I, 2007 And Todayโ
The best part is that this was years ago, but the facial expressions are still the same โ dog and human alike! They both look like they have wizened and grown, but are still fast friends.


47. โOur Dog Kendall And Daughter Kaelenโ
From sitting the kennel as a baby, to walking him down her down the road. Is there anything cuter than baby and animal friendships? I didnโt think so.


48. โSame Girl, Same Dog, Same Shirt. 2004 And 2016โ
A good shirt is a good shirt, right? Apparently, a good dog is a good dog, too! Even after twelve years, some things never change.


49. โ4 Years Apartโ
Four years and a lot can change. A beard, the camera, quality, and style all seem to have changed in this photo. That dog is still preoccupied with something to the left though!


Did you make it through without crying? I sure didnโt. Let us know your favorite one!
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