Julianne Hough shares heartfelt tributes to her dogs killed by coyotes

Julianne Hough lost her dogs five years ago, but still remembers them fondly by paying tribute to them on the anniversary of their deaths.

Post to Instagram on Saturday September 28th Dancing with the stars The host shared a carousel of photos of herself enjoying several moments with her beloved Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Lexi and Harley, as well as emotional photos from the funeral she had for them.

The first photos show Hough lying on the floor with Lexi and Harley’s bodies wrapped in blankets, surrounded by flowers, petals and candles. One photo shows the dogs’ collars. A final shot in the series shows a family gathering including her brother Derek Houghparents Marianne And Bruce Hough and ex-husband Brooks Laich.

“September 28, 2019 🕊️I love you Lexi and Harley ❤️,” she captioned the post. “Hard to believe it’s been five years without you in this 3D world.”

Hough had announced the deaths of Lexi and Harley, whom she had owned for eleven and eight years respectively, in a heartbreaking message in October 2019. Instagram post in which she thanked Lexi and Harley “for being my babies, my daughters,” and mourned, “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.”

However, she recently revealed how the dogs got by. Speak with The Jamie Kern Lima Show in August, she explained that her pets had fallen victim to a coyote attack.

“I woke up before my phone even rang and I knew, and I picked up the phone and my assistant was just screaming at that point,” she said when she got the news.

The death of her beloved animals also came at a particularly sensitive time, as Hough struggled with her marriage to then-husband Laich. “I had asked for a divorce,” she recalls. “And ten days later my dogs were killed by coyotes.”

She gave further details to the podcast this month, saying she had been at a bachelor party in Lake Tahoe when she got the news of her pets’ deaths: “I don’t even know how I got from Tahoe to LA,” she said through tears. “I blacked out.”

‘When I got it [back]they had cleaned [the dogs] and they made an altar,” she explained. “I was able to spend at least a day and a half with them and their bodies before cremating them.”

On a cheerful note, Hough revealed that she is a dog owner again. Posting a video of a new puppy, Sunny, on Instagram in July she enthused, “Sunny, you have brought so much love and literal sunshine into my life. I can’t remember a time without you. Lexi & Harley would have loved and played with you every day and I know they sent you to me, only when I was ready to open my heart and love again – you broke me open, sweetheart.