A corgi named Ryder took his "man's best friend" duties to a whole new level when his owner Brooke Ellington gave birth to her son Boyd at home in Midland, Texas, two years ago. Unfortunately, it wasn't long after Boyd arrived that Ryder died of lymphoma.
Devastated by the loss of her faithful pup, Brooke told BuzzFeed that she "quickly filled the void" left in the wake of Ryder's death by adopting a new corgi puppy named Ranger.
"I just couldn’t imagine not having that love from a corgi for my family," she explained. "Ranger instantly fit in and became a big part of our family right away."
As it turns out, Ranger wasn't just a perfect fit for Brooke's family but also filled Ryder's shoes in an amazing way: When Brooke delivered her third child at home earlier this month, Ranger was by her side the entire time, serving as her "doggy doula" just as Ryder did two years prior…
Brooke didn't even realize how much Ranger supported her throughout her labor and delivery until she looked back at the shots taken by her birth photographer Kristin Waner.
"I remember him being there close with me as I labored, but didn’t realize he was by my side the entire time," Brooke told BuzzFeed. "It brought me to tears looking at the photos after my birth, seeing just how impactful he was to the entire event."
Kristin, of Kristin Ann Photo, recalled Ranger "[lying] under the bed watching Brooke while she was rocking back and forth on the edge" during contractions.
"He would come and give her a kiss after she would go through a contraction," Kristin continued.
Added Brooke: "It was like he really knew I was hurting and wanted to make sure I was okay."
When baby Berkeley Sue finally arrived, Ranger was completely smitten.
He patiently waited for his chance to meet his new sister.
And he was overjoyed to join Brooke and her husband, Steve, in welcoming the newest member of their family.
"Through all the commotion, little Ranger jumped up and ran right over to meet his new (and only) little sister," Kristin wrote on Love What Matters.
"Once the baby was here he was all about Berkeley," she recalled. "He just wanted to watch and sniff her."
"He loved her. He watched every moment from her getting weighed to her first outfit changed."
"He was so proud to see her and the work Brooke did."
Kristin knew she had to capture Ranger's involvement in Brooke's experience as she watched the home birth unfold, she said.
"It was a beautiful thing to watch — the bond between mom and baby and man’s best friend. This made me take notice. It’s not something you see every day," she explained. "I knew this was special."
Kristin said she hopes that this story will help "people see the beauty in birth through the eyes of Ranger."
"I hope my story encourages other moms to research their birthing options," she said. "Having your family, including your dog, can make you feel so loved and cared for during birth."
Ranger — and his beloved human family — can attest to that. Good boy, Ranger!
