In a moment that has left hearts worldwide in pieces, Teddy, the loyal golden retriever who captured the soul of slain Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, has passed away just 30 minutes ago. This heartbreaking news underscores a bond so powerful, not even death could keep them apart. Their spirit lives on together, a testament to love’s unyielding grip in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
The announcement, shared through tear-streaked social media posts by Iryna’s grieving family, paints a picture of profound sorrow and ethereal connection. “Teddy waited as long as he could,” wrote Iryna’s aunt, Valeria Haskell, in a post timestamped mere moments ago. “He couldn’t bear this world without her light. Now, they run free together, tails wagging in the fields of forever.” As the clock struck 2:30 PM Eastern Time, the beloved dog – who had been Iryna’s steadfast companion through her darkest hours – slipped away peacefully in the arms of her uncle, Frank Scott, surrounded by the same family home that once echoed with their joyful barks and laughter.
For those unfamiliar with this unfolding saga, Iryna Zarutska’s story is one of resilience turned to ruin. Born on May 22, 2002, in the bustling heart of Kyiv, Ukraine, Iryna was a vibrant soul whose life was upended by the shadows of war. In 2022, as Russian missiles rained down on her homeland, the 20-year-old artist fled the bomb shelters with her mother, Anna, and siblings, Valeriia and Bohdan. They sought refuge in the United States, landing in the welcoming suburbs of Huntersville, North Carolina, under the care of relatives Valeria Haskell and Frank Scott. What began as a desperate escape blossomed into a love affair with the American Dream – but it was Teddy who truly became her anchor.
From the moment Iryna stepped into the Haskell household, Teddy, a gentle giant of a golden retriever with fur like sun-kissed wheat, claimed her as his own. The family home, already a menagerie with three dogs, transformed into a haven of healing. “It was like The Brady Bunch, but with more fur and unconditional love,” Scott later reflected in family recollections. Iryna, with her quick wit and infectious smile, quickly assumed the role of the eldest sister – confident, ambitious, and endlessly creative. She poured her Kyiv-honed talents into art restoration, sculpting intricate pieces that adorned the walls and designing eclectic clothing that turned heads at local markets. Yet, amid the sketches and sewing sessions, it was Teddy at her feet, his warm muzzle resting on her lap, that grounded her wandering spirit.
Their bond was no ordinary pet-owner affection; it was a lifeline forged in fire. Iryna often spoke – in her still-developing English laced with Ukrainian melody – of how Teddy “protected her heart” from the ghosts of war. Neighbors recall lazy afternoons where she’d walk him through Huntersville’s tree-lined streets, her laughter mingling with his playful bounds. “She’d babysit kids and walk dogs for extra cash, but Teddy was never ‘work’ for her,” one family friend shared. “He was her therapy, her confidant. When nightmares woke her, he’d curl up beside her, as if whispering, ‘You’re safe now.'”
As Iryna embraced her new life, opportunities bloomed. She volunteered at local animal shelters, channeling her deep love for creatures great and small into sketches of wide-eyed puppies and majestic horses. Her artwork, vibrant and soul-stirring, found its way into community galleries, while her budding romance with Stas Nikulytsia – a fellow Ukrainian émigré – added a layer of tender hope. They dreamed of a shared studio, filled with canvases and canine chaos. Teddy, ever the third wheel in the best way, tagged along on their dates, his wagging tail a metronome to their young love. By May 2025, Iryna had moved out to start this chapter with Stas, but Teddy’s health began to falter around that time – a quiet decline that mirrored the subtle shifts in her world.
Tragedy struck without mercy on August 22, 2025. Iryna, riding the Charlotte light rail after a routine day of sketching in the city, became the victim of a senseless, unprovoked attack. Stabbed in a brutal flash of violence, the 23-year-old’s light was extinguished in an instant, leaving a community reeling and a family shattered. The suspect, a local man with a troubled history, was swiftly apprehended, but no justice could mend the void. Iryna’s funeral, held under gray September skies, drew hundreds – Ukrainians in solidarity, artists in admiration, neighbors in numb disbelief. Her father, Stanislav, watched via livestream from war-torn Ukraine, forbidden by conscription laws from crossing the ocean one final time. Eulogies painted her not as a victim, but as a force: kind, creative, a bridge between worlds.
In the weeks that followed, the Haskell home became a vigil. Teddy, sensing the fracture in his human family’s rhythm, withdrew into quiet corners. He refused treats, his once-sparkling eyes dulled by an unspoken grief. Veterinary checks revealed no clear ailment – just the heavy toll of a broken heart. “He’d search the house for her scent, whining at her empty room,” Scott described. “It was as if part of him left with her that day.” Iryna’s sister, Valeriia, took to sleeping beside him, whispering Ukrainian lullabies that once soothed their shared childhood fears. But as fall leaves began to turn, Teddy’s strength waned. The family, bracing for the inevitable, surrounded him with Iryna’s favorite blanket – one she’d sewn herself, embroidered with sunflowers symbolizing her homeland’s unyielding spirit.
And so, 30 minutes ago, in the soft afternoon light filtering through the living room windows, Teddy drew his last breath. It was peaceful, they say – a gentle sigh, as if bidding adieu to the pain. No dramatic fanfare, just the quiet closure of a circle that war and violence had torn asunder. As news rippled across social media, tributes poured in: candlelit vigils planned for Ukrainian refugees, artists pledging sketches in Teddy’s honor, even strangers sharing stories of their own devoted companions. “Their bond so powerful, not even death could keep them apart,” one post echoed, capturing the sentiment that has gripped the internet.
This final act of devotion – Teddy following Iryna into eternity – serves as a poignant reminder of love’s fierce tenacity. In a world too often fractured by conflict and cruelty, their story shines as a beacon. Iryna, the artist who fled bombs for brushes, found in Teddy not just a pet, but a mirror to her own resilient soul. He guarded her through displacement and dreams, through laughter and loss. Now, reunited beyond the veil, they embody the unbreakable: a girl and her dog, tails wagging in tandem, spirits dancing free.
For the Zarutska-Haskell family, the pain is raw, doubled in this fresh wound. Yet, amid the tears, there’s a whisper of solace. “Their spirit lives on together,” Valeria posted, attaching a faded photo of Iryna and Teddy mid-laugh, mid-leap. “In every sunset, every paw print in the sand of memory, they remind us: love doesn’t end. It just changes form.” As Charlotte’s skyline twinkles into dusk, one can’t help but wonder – in those quiet moments, do they hear the echo of barks and giggles, a symphony of souls entwined?
The outpouring of support continues to swell. Donations to Ukrainian refugee aid have surged, animal welfare groups report increased adoptions, and Iryna’s artwork – once a personal passion – is being compiled into a memorial exhibit slated for next month. Teddy’s passing, though steeped in sorrow, amplifies her legacy: a call to cherish the quiet heroes in our lives, the ones with four paws and fathomless eyes.
In the end, this is more than a tale of loss; it’s a celebration of connection. Iryna Zarutska and Teddy – bound by devotion, separated by circumstance, united in forever. Their light, dimmed but not extinguished, urges us all to hold our loved ones closer, to let love lead, even when the path grows dim. Rest in playful peace, dear friends. The world is brighter for having known you.
