On August 2nd, Pet Companion Magazine (PCM) lost a friend: the delightful Henri le Frenchie, our cover model for the summer 2018 issue, passed away very unexpectedly in Carlsbad, California. As we at PCM mourn the loss of this heroic little celebridog, so do 77,000 of Henri’s closest friends—his loyal followers on Instagram, who checked in with him daily to see his lovable face and the silly antics that never failed to raise a smile.
No one will miss Henri more than his mom, Samantha Childs, who stumbled across Instagram almost by accident and never dreamed her boy would ultimately touch the lives of so many. Throughout Henri’s life, Sam received messages from admirers who told her how much Henri meant to them, how he brought them joy when they needed it most, how he reached people who seemed unreachable, and how he made the world seem a little smaller, a little more intimate, and a lot more fun.
We at PCM extend our heartfelt sympathies to Sam, who lost her “best friend, soul mate, and constant joy.” Henri spent all eight years of his life with Sam, and he was her inspiration, her “baby boy,” and her realization of a lifelong dream—to have a Frenchie of her own.
Thank you, Sam, for sharing Henri le Frenchie with the world. His charm, patience, and grace—as well as his ever-present loopy grin—will live on in the hearts of his fans forever.