TL;DR
Toronto-based photographer and certified pet nutrition coach Coeli (Chelly) Fortun joins Mariska for a gentle, deeply honest conversation about caring for her 15-year-old Shih Tzu, Manolo, through canine dementia, degenerative myelopathy, and arthritis, and what it meant to give him his "last best day." Coeli shares the story behind her viral last-day video, why nutrition and community were central to both Manolo's care and her cat Snuffles living to 20, and the philosophy that reframed her hardest decision: "it's not about fixing aging, it's about supporting good days," and "euthanasia isn't giving up, it's compassion."
In this episode, we sit down for a gentle and deeply honest conversation with Coeli Fortun, a pet photographer and certified pet nutrition coach, as she shares what it was like to care for her senior dog, Manolo, through decline, and what it meant to give him his last best day.
Together, we talk about the bond we build with our pets over a lifetime, the role nutrition and supportive care can play as they age, and the long, emotional road that leads to end-of-life decisions. Chelly opens up about grief, judgment, and the quiet relief that can coexist with loss, and why community matters so much during these moments.
This episode is for anyone loving a senior pet, grieving one they’ve lost, or navigating the question no one prepares you for. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to go through it without compassion or support.
Guest Bio:
Coeli (Chelly) Fortun is a Toronto-based photographer and certified pet nutrition coach whose work centers on documenting the deep bond between pets and their humans. After caring for her Shih Tzu, Manolo (15 y.o), through three years of senior decline (including canine dementia, degenerative myelopathy, and arthritis) and her cat Snuffles (20y.o), through cancer, she began sharing their stories openly and found comfort in the community that formed around them.
During This Episode:
- Coeli's background as a Toronto-based photographer and certified pet nutrition coach
- How caring for her cat Snuffles, who lived to 20, first drew Coeli into pet nutrition coaching
- The role good nutrition played in extending both Snuffles' and Manolo's quality of life
- Why photographing the bond between pets and their humans became Coeli's life's work
- The story behind Manolo's viral "last best day" video, filmed at a park with strangers
- Why Coeli and her partner chose to spend Manolo's final hours in public rather than privately
- The slow, monthslong accumulation of symptoms that signaled Manolo's decline: nighttime yelping, loss of mobility, worsening arthritis, blindness, and deafness
- The quality of life checklist that helped Coeli and her partner make their decision
- A canine behaviorist's rule of thumb: if a dog can't do at least three of their four favorite things anymore, they're no longer living a happy dog's life
- The judgment and criticism Coeli faced online, and how she processed both support and hate in the comments
- Why community (vets, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and fellow pet parents) was essential to getting through the hardest year of her life
- How Coeli holds space for her ongoing grief, including advice for others going through anticipatory grief
- The powerful message from a 20-year veteran vet tech: "euthanasia isn't giving up, it's compassion"
- What Coeli wishes she'd known earlier, including the value of documenting the hard days, not just the good ones
- What Manolo's last day actually looked like, and the quiet moment that will stay with Coeli forever
Takeaways:
- Chelly's journey into pet photography began with her own pets — a desire to document the emotional bond between pets and their humans, sparked by regret over not taking enough photos of her cat Snuffles.
- The emotional bond between pets and their humans is profound. Photography, for Chelly, became a way to honor routines, inside jokes, and connection that often go unseen by the rest of society.
- Nutrition plays a crucial role in the health of senior pets. Chelly's cat Snuffles lived to 20 largely due to a focus on fresh, quality nutrition, which also shaped how she supported Manolo through his decline.
- Creating lasting memories with pets is essential for pet parents. Chelly encourages documenting both the good days and the hard ones, since both become part of honoring a pet's full story.
- Euthanasia is a compassionate choice, not a sign of giving up. A 20-year veteran vet tech reminded Chelly that ending suffering is a gift, not a defeat.
- Grief is a complex and non-linear process for pet parents. Chelly describes it as a mix of grief, relief, and joy that resurfaces unexpectedly, even months later.
- Community support is vital during the grieving process. Vets, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and fellow pet parents became Chelly's closest support system through Manolo's decline.
- It's important to seek out others who understand your experience, whether through Facebook support groups or local pet parent communities, rather than facing it alone.
- Documenting both good and bad days can be therapeutic and can help other pet parents feel less alone in similar situations.
- Cherishing the last moments with a pet can bring peace, even amid the sadness, by focusing on what brought them joy rather than what was lost.
Relevant links mentioned in the episode:
Timestamps to relevant points within the episode:
[00:00]- Intro
[03:45]- Meet Chelly: Photographer, pet nutrition coach & senior pet advocate
[05:22]- How photographing her own pets changed everything
[07:27]- Why nutrition played a major role in extending her pets’ quality of life
[09:15]- “It’s not about fixing aging, it’s about supporting good days”
[12:24]- The story behind Manolo’s last-day video
[15:11]- Why the park, the sign, and strangers mattered so much
[16:06]- Turning grief into connection: sharing to help even one person feel less alone
[17:10]- Why end-of-life decisions are never “overnight”
[18:21]- Understanding canine dementia (and why no one talks about it)
[20:24]- The Quality of Life checklist that changed everything
[21:05]- “If they can’t do the dog things they love anymore…”
[23:37]- Sensory loss, fear, and what senior decline really looks like
[26:03]- How vets and specialists helped confirm it wasn’t “giving up”
[27:40]- Holding grief and relief at the same time
[29:25]- How to hold space for grief when the world doesn’t understand
[32:13]- Why community is everything during senior pet care
[35:16]- What to say to yourself when you feel exhausted, judged, or overwhelmed
[38:03]- “Euthanasia isn’t giving up, it’s compassion”
[42:04]- The moment Manolo showed them he was ready
FAQ
How do I know when it's time to euthanize my senior dog?
A helpful guideline shared in this episode is to consider whether your dog can still do at least three of their four favorite things — if they've lost the ability to do almost everything that made them happy, it may be time to consult your vet about quality of life.
What is canine dementia and how does it progress?
Canine dementia in this episode was described as a slow accumulation of symptoms, starting with nighttime restlessness and yelping that gradually extends throughout the day, often accompanied by confusion, disorientation, and loss of vision or hearing.
Is euthanasia giving up on my pet?
No — as a longtime veterinary technician told Coeli, euthanasia is not giving up, it is a compassionate act that ends suffering and preserves a pet's dignity and peace when their quality of life has significantly declined.
How can I cope with grief after losing a senior pet?
Allowing yourself to feel grief in the moment it arises, rather than suppressing it, and leaning on communities of people who understand the experience (such as Facebook support groups for pet loss or canine dementia) can help you process grief in a healthier way.
What role does nutrition play in a senior pet's quality of life?
Good nutrition can meaningfully extend a senior pet's quality of life and help manage conditions like arthritis and gut health, though any major dietary changes should be made in consultation with a vet or certified pet nutritionist.
How do I deal with people who judge my decisions about my senior pet's care?
Recognize that people who judge from the outside don't see the full picture of your pet's health and daily struggles, and instead seek support from people who understand, such as fellow pet parents or professionals who were part of your pet's care journey.
What is a "quality of life checklist" and how can it help?
A quality of life checklist, like the one referenced in this episode, is a structured tool that helps pet parents objectively assess a pet's comfort, mobility, appetite, and happiness to guide difficult end-of-life decisions.
Should I document my pet's decline, even the hard days?
Yes — Coeli shares that she wishes she had documented more of the difficult days alongside the good ones, since that footage can help other pet parents feel less alone and reduce the stigma around senior pet decline.
About the Author: Mariska Nell
Mariska is the founder of Tails and Tones, a design-led, sustainable dog product brand. She's also the host of the Tails and Tones podcast, where she explores dog health, product design, and intentional pet parenting with experts, veterinarians, and fellow dog parents.
Background: Mariska holds a Master's degree in Sustainable Design, a Bachelor's in Interior Design, and a Postgraduate qualification in Environmental Science. She's spent over 10 years working as a sustainability designer and strategist across the UAE, Australia, South Africa, the UK, and India. Her previous work includes collaborations with brands like Nespresso, Costa Coffee, and Dubai Airport, and she founded Design By Mariska, known for trash-to-treasure art exhibited at Dubai International Airport. She's also the host and founder of Mama Earth Talk, a sustainability podcast with 200+ episodes on zero waste and climate action, featuring guests including Dr. Sylvia Earle and the late Dr. Jane Goodall. She created the free Living Lighter course for practical sustainable living.
Piper: Mariska shares her life and work with Piper, her French Bulldog rescue dog. Piper joined the family in 2021 at 5 months old and has been the Chief Paw-duct Tester for everything Tails and Tones creates. Piper's journey, including cleft palate repair, luxating patella, arthritis risk, and recent mobility challenges, directly shaped the founding mission of Elevé (Tails and Tones' first product: a modular, height-adaptive feeding system).
Mission: We are on a mission to help modern dog parents simplify everyday care and elevate life with their pets, without sacrificing style or sustainability. Tails and Tones exists to build products that show up for dog parents, beautiful, sustainable, and robust enough to support you on the worst days. Not just the easy ones.
You can find Mariska at @tailsandtones on Instagram, or visit tailsandtones.com to learn more about Elevé and the Tails and Tones mission.
