Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich Mourn the Death of Their Two Dogs: 'I Love You Forever'

Liz Calvario‍
Updated

Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich are mourning the death of their dogs.

The America's Got Talent judge took to Instagram on Saturday to share the heartbreaking news that her beloved pets, Lexi and Harley, died last month.

"Thank you for being my babies, my daughters. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for teaching me how to be your mother," she wrote next to a slideshow filled with photos of her and her Cavalier King Charles spaniels. "Thank you for allowing me to give and receive love. Thank you for your kisses. Thank you for your blessings every single minute of every single day. Thank you for your souls. Thank you for protecting me. Thank you for letting me protect you."

"Thank you for protecting each other. Thank you for the timeless memories. Thank you for your magic," she continued. "Thank you for being the most consistent and constant beings in my life. Thank you for being you. Thank you for being my guardians on this earth and even more so now."

"I’ve never experienced a love like ours. I miss you. I love you forever. Now You Are Free," she wrote. Both pups died on Sept. 28. Lexi had been with Hough since 2008, with Harley joining them in 2011.

Pure love is real, it existed through us. My heart expanded and felt the truth of what is possible. I am forever grateful. Thank you for your love. Thank you for being my babies, my daughters. Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for teaching me how to be your mother. Thank you for allowing me to give and receive love. Thank you for your kisses. Thank you for your blessings every single minute of every single day. Thank you for your souls. Thank you for protecting me. Thank you for letting me protect you. Thank you for protecting each other. Thank you for the timeless memories. Thank you for your magic. Thank you for being the most consistent and constant beings in my life. Thank you for being you. Thank you for being my guardians on this earth and even more so now. I’ve never experienced a love like ours. I miss you I love you forever Now You Are Free Lexi July 21 2008 - September 28 2019 Harley March 28 2011 - September 28 2019

A post shared by Julianne Hough (@juleshough) on Oct 12, 2019 at 9:57am PDT

Laich also posted his own tribute, in which he shared that Lexi and Harley's "tragic passing has left my wife and I heartbroken. Lexi and Harley were not just pets to us, they were our children, and we loved them as such."

Thanking everyone for their support during this difficult time, he also thanked his wife "for allowing me to share in their world, and trusting me to be their dad. I wasn’t perfect, but I loved them with every ounce of my heart."

It is with the heaviest heart that I share with you the passing of our beloved dogs Lexi and Harley. Their tragic passing has left my wife and I heartbroken. Lexi and Harley were not just pets to us, they were our children, and we loved them as such. They were the purest example to love that I have ever seen. They showed me that true love did exist in the world. The way they loved their mom @juleshough and the way she loved them back was the first time I knew that there was hope for me to have love in my life. And they accepted me into their little family, and helped me become a dad for the first time. The past 2 weeks have been filled with tears of sorrow, and tears of joy. The immense pain we feel by their loss is due to the overwhelming love we had for them. Every single beautiful part of them will be missed, but we trust that they are in a better place now, and can still feel their presence in our hearts. I want to thank the many people who have helped see us through the past 2 weeks. The outpouring of love and support we have received from our family and friends has helped heal our hearts. I am eternally grateful for everyone who has held space for my wife and I to grieve and mourn. There are too many names to list, but you all know who you are, and know that we couldn’t have made it through this without each and everyone of you. In the most sincere way possible, thank you very much. Thank you to @kristysowin, @derekhough, and @camilaforeroo for going above and beyond what we could ever imagine asking of you. There simply are no words to express our gratitude, we love you deeply and are so grateful for you. Thank you to my wife for allowing me to share in their world, and trusting me to be their dad. I wasn’t perfect, but I loved them with every ounce of my heart. And thank you Lexi and Harley, for teaching me grace, softening my heart, and showing me love. You are perfect, and may you Rest In Peace. ❤️🐶🐼🐺💑❤️

A post shared by Brooks Laich (@brookslaich) on Oct 12, 2019 at 10:01am PDT

The pups had been a big part of the couple's life and, like they expressed, were like children to them. Weeks before Lexi and Harley's death, ET caught up with Hough where she said that she and Laich weren't in a hurry to have kids.

"I'm not right now, no, but, you know, that's definitely been a part of my future in the past. Of what I want," she shared. The 31-year-old went on to explain that, while in the past people have coped with the pressure to start having children after getting married, she enjoys the freedom to go at her own pace.

"I mean, we're living in a different time now where that was an old paradigm of what is expected," she said. "And, it's like, I have an incredible life where I get to nurture and being mama to lots of people, so who knows."

Hear more of what she shared in the video below.

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