Julianne Hough Shares Heartfelt Tribute to Her Dogs Killed by Coyotes

Julianne Hough he lost his dogs five years ago, but he still remembers them with love by honoring them on the anniversary of their death.

Posted on Instagram on Saturday, September 28, the Dancing with the Stars host shared a carousel of photos of her enjoying various moments with her beloved Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Lexi and Harley, as well as touching photos of the funeral she did for them.

The first photos show Hough lying on the floor with the bodies of Lexi and Harley wrapped in blankets, surrounded by flowers, petals and candles. One photo shows a dog collar. The final photo in the series features a family gathering including his brother Derek Houghparents Marianne again Bruce Hough and ex-husband Brooks Laich.

“September 28, 2019 🕊️I love you Lexi and Harley ❤️,” she captioned the post. “It’s hard to believe that 5 years have passed without you in this 3D world.”

Hough had announced the death of Lexi and Harley, whom he had for 11 and 8 years respectively, in October 2019 with a heartbreaking Instagram post in which he thanked Lexi and Harley “for being my children, my daughters,” and cried, “Thank you for choosing me.” Thank you for teaching me to be your mother. Thank you for allowing me to give and receive love.”

However, he recently revealed how the dogs passed. Talking to The Jamie Kern Lima Show in August, he explained that his pets were victims of coyote attacks.

“I woke up before my phone rang and I knew, I picked up the phone and my assistant was just crying,” he said, given this news.

The death of her beloved animals came at a critical time, as Hough was struggling in her marriage to ex-husband Laich. “I asked for a breakup,” he recalled. “Then 10 days later my dogs were killed by coyotes.”

She gave more details on a podcast this month, saying she was at a bachelorette 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 recounted through tears. “I’m completely lost.”

“When I found out [back]they had cleaned up [the dogs] upstairs, they also made an altar,” he explained. “I was able to be with them and their bodies for at least a day and a half before I went to burn them.”

On a happier note, Hough revealed that she has become a dog owner again. Posting a video of the new baby, Sunny, on Instagram in July, she beamed, “Sunny, you’ve brought so much love and sunshine into my life. I can’t remember a time without you. Lexi & Harley would love you and play with you every day and I know they sent you to me, only when I was ready to open my heart and love again – open me my love.”