“R.I.P. Forever in Our Hearts”: Tom Brady Bids Emotional Final Goodbye to His Beloved Dog Lua

Beyond the battlefield that is the NFL, there once resided life’s best wide receiver who knew Tom Brady beyond the limits of a scoreboard. That was his dog, Lua, a sturdy brown Pitbull mix that former couple Bundchen-Brady adopted in 2014. When it all came down to retiring from a long day, Brady was your usual folk. Brady returned home for some peace and quiet into the embrace of his family and pets, the chief among whom was Lua… A glimpse of who Brady once shared on the big stage.

If you followed Brady in the 2010s, you must have caught a glimpse of Lua on your TV sets. No, it wasn’t at one of the former New England Patriots quarterback’s games. It was during Brady’s “Down Time” in 2014, in a video campaign for UGG Australia. “This is what it all comes down to. This is what all the hard work is for,” said Brady in the video, enjoying a walk with Lua on a Boston beach. “It’s moments like these that make [the big moments] that much more important.” Now, an hour after Brady announced the heartbreaking news via his Instagram story, these words ring true more than ever.

On December 23, the 7-time Super Bowl champion posted a picture of both his children cuddling lovely Lua, who’d been a huge part of the Brady household ever since she stepped foot into their lives in 2014. Brady captioned the story, “We love you, Lua. RIP ❤️.” Adding a picture of only Lua, he wrote, “Forever in our hearts ❤️.” Considering how much Lua meant to her as well, Brady’s ex-wife Gisele Bundchen expressed her love for the Pitbull, too.

In a heartwarming carousel of pictures featuring Lua with her children and herself, Bundchen wrote, “Our little Lulu, our guardian angel is gone to heaven. She will forever live in our hearts. We already miss her sooooo much! #unconditionallove RIPLua 💔” Love really does transcend all boundaries. As Tom Brady, Gisele Bundchen, and their children – Benjamin Rein and Vivian Lake – mourn the loss of a family member so integral to them, fans send prayers their way as well.

Although this is a tough day for the Bradys, it will also be forever etched as one that stands as a testament to their love for animals. The family has never shied away from showing their love and care for furry beings, as was seen when they touched hearts by collectively volunteering at an animal shelter.

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The time Tom Brady named puppies and bottle-fed kittens

During his final days with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tom Brady and his children discreetly volunteered at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay for months. The foundation aims to work for the betterment of stray dogs, and knowing Brady and his love for animals, he took this opportunity to be a kinder person and set an example for everyone.

Ashley Ryan, wife of Buccaneers’ safety Logan Ryan, took to Instagram to post about Brady and his kids’ volunteering efforts at the organization. She wrote, “I guess I’ll chime in with my Tom Brady story. But it’s not the one about seven Super Bowls, being down 28-3, or his last pass as a Patriot. We all know those.” She described just how significant an impact Brady had even off the field.

“It’s the one about the dad who volunteered at the animal shelter with his kids throughout the entire football season. The one where he bonded with his kids over naming puppies and bottle-feeding kittens. The one where he silently showed up every other week to make a difference for his family and his community,” Ashely Ryan revealed.

R.I.P. Lua, and more power to the Bradys as they mourn the loss of an unforgettable part of their family.

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