Instagram/@ali.manno
Ali Manno, the former ‘Bachelorette’ contestant and now a lifestyle influencer, has been very open about the very hard and very sad mourning time she experienced after her dog Owen died. Manno’s suffering was so severe that she referred to it as ‘unbearable’ and even questioned how one could possibly get through it. Not unexpectedly, this all drew a great deal of support from people who had experienced the same loss and were also sharing their stories.
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The Instagram post, which was accompanied by Wong’s professional family photographs of Owen, taken by Leigh Castelliphotography, expressed a feeling of deep gratitude even in the midst of sorrow. Manno recalled the ‘extra time’ the family was given after Owen’s brain tumor diagnosis, which was long enough for him to accompany them to California. But now, a very strong sorrow takes over her; she described herself as having ‘lost the ability to function’ and being ‘utterly wrecked,’ going through times when she regrets not paying more attention to him during his last months.
The comments section turned into a digital support group with a sympathy wave from those who understand well that losing a pet is just like losing a family member. One participant made a proposal, both practical and deeply touching, as a way to cope: ‘You might consider making a blanket with lots of pictures of him on it..so you will be able to keep snuggling with him.’ It is a material idea for a suffering that seems completely immaterial, a way to physically hold a memory.
Another user commented on the long, zigzag path of this particular grief. ‘I lost my first dog 13 years ago. Sometimes, I still cry over the loss,’ the user said while giving very good advice about the pressure to ‘move on’ or get a new pet. ‘Don’t let anyone tell you how to mourn… You and Kevin and your family are the only ones who really understand it best when it comes to mourning Owen.’ This sentiment was echoed often, confirming that the size of this loss is never to be doubted.
A user’s testimony perhaps caught the attention the most when he said, ‘After my dog died, I went to therapy because I didn’t know how to go on living. It has been almost 3 years, and I’m still not done with giving away his stuff.’ The confession reveals how this loss can be so huge that it is easier for others who are going through the same thing to talk about it, however sad it might be. Manno, too, had a high level of participation in this; she replied to a post complaining about burial versus cremation with her own raw insecurity: ‘Sometimes I wish we could just do this…I should have thought through it after part more, but I never did.’
Very soon, the conversation turned to minor comforts and the beliefs that would be given to time as the first light of dawn. One message that was very beautifully worded was, ‘The pain will never disappear, but I promise you – it will be less of a load… And when you are ready, Owen will send you a new dog that is meant to be a Manno.’ This is a viewpoint that acknowledges the unavoidable emotional aftermath while at the same time being very gracious, uplifting, and looking towards the future. Another one recounted a child’s innocent wisdom that gave them peace, ‘My niece who was six at the time told me “They are still here. You just can’t see them anymore.”…now, I think of them as ghost pets living in my house.’
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Ali Manno’s decision to post this unvarnished moment of despair is not only an update to her followers; it is a tapping into a worldwide but often silently suffered experience. The images that she treasures most, which show Owen integrated into the family portrait, verify what her words and the expressions of sympathy reflect: he was not just a pet but part of the family. His going away changed the very center of their home. The shared response indicates a simple yet powerful truth; that love of this kind leaves a mark as deep as any and the way through sorrow is one of patience, self-forgiveness, and finally, grasping the gratitude for time bestowed as tightly as the pain of loss. For Manno and her family, the memories, support from a community that understands, and the slow, hard work of healing a broken heart, make the journey ahead easier. In other news, Ali Manno and husband Kevin recently completed a home project, and Manno also shared a heartfelt tribute to Kaley Cuoco. The family enjoys creative celebrations, having once transformed into Back to the Future characters for Halloween and sharing a heartfelt family Christmas video. Her son even wore an adorable Taylor Swift-themed Halloween costume with a Back to the Future twist.