In Loving Memory of Bean - Medical & Charity

With much sadness and a heavy heart, we say goodbye to Bean Puppuccino, the best little dog that ever lived.

Click this link for Bean's story on Instagram.

My name is Nicholas (also known as Nicky on Bean’s Insta), and I had the privilege of being Bean’s owner and best buddy for the past 3.5 years. To say we were inseparable would be an understatement. I have worked from home since adopting him in March 2019, and there was rarely a day when Bean wasn’t by my side from sunrise to sunset.

Nearly every day of Bean’s post-rescue life was filled with massive amounts of unconditional love. Every morning started with cuddles and belly rubs, followed by playtime with toys. Then we’d go on walks in the park, eat meals made with real store-bought food, snack on never-ending organic treats, go on dog park adventures, climb down the stairs to the beach path… every moment we had together was cherished and celebrated to its fullest potential. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who focused more on making their dog’s life special every single day than Bean’s daddy, the infamous (but rarely seen) Nicky.

Unfortunately, Bean’s post-rescue life was also characterized by many medical challenges. First, Bean had a cancerous tumor removed from his wiener in August 2020. Most recently, Bean was diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease in August 2022; a health condition Bean likely had for most of the time we were together.

Bean ultimately died on Thursday, October 13, 2022, from a host of cardiovascular problems- degenerative mitral valve disease and ventricular tachycardia (arrhythmia), leading to congestive heart failure. Emergency veterinarians made extensive efforts to treat and stabilize Bean’s symptoms, but every step forward in Bean’s fight to survive just led to another step backward.

While his health was in a temporary window of stability, I decided to take Bean home with me against medical advice. Armed with four prescribed medications from the vet, I wanted to spend at least one more night and day with Bean in our home in Santa Monica, California. So we went home together and went to sleep.

The following day, using a doggy stroller, I was able to take Bean on one last trip to the park. We saw the ocean together one last time and visited our favorite squirrel-chasing spot to take pictures and videos. The weather was a little cold, but our hearts were filled with tremendous warmth and love. It was a perfect way to say goodbye, and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.

Bean passed away later that night, lying on my chest and in my arms. I held him close and sang softly to him, assuring him that he was loved and that everything would be OK. It isn't easy to put into words how much I loved Bean. He was my everything… my entire heart. Bean taught me that nothing in this world is more valuable than love. And without a shadow of a doubt, Bean made me a better human being.

The efforts to save Bean’s life were not cheap (though they could have been much more expensive if not for the concise action strategy employed by the vets). It would be greatly appreciated if you or someone you know would like to donate to help finance Bean’s medical expenses. Any amount, large or small, will help ease the difficult burden of losing Bean.

Any excess donations will go directly to The Forgotten Dog Los Angeles, Bean’s original foster group. Since I adopted Bean, the ladies of TFDLA have been tremendous in helping me care for Bean through all his medical predicaments. Without them, I do not know how I would have gotten through Bean’s death and other ailments. They are truly invaluable, and the work they continue to do in rescuing and placing forgotten dogs into new homes should be supported and celebrated.

If you have gotten this far, thank you for reading. I took many new pictures and videos leading up to Bean’s passing, including his medical battles at the vet and our last trip to the park, and I will be sharing them on social media in the coming months. Your words of kindness on Instagram have always brought smiles to our faces and love to our hearts. Please do not hesitate to reach out via a comment or direct message. I will read every single one and try to respond as much as time permits while working.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your part in making our journey special.

Love,

Nick(y)