“Love is heavy — but it’s the lightest burden we’ll ever carry.”

In the summer of 2021, Carlos Fresco knew his time with his loyal labradoodle, Monty, was coming to an end. After a long, valiant battle with leukemia, Monty had grown too weak to walk. Yet, their bond was unbreakable, forged over years of shared adventures, including countless climbs up Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales. On those climbs, Monty’s tail had always wagged joyfully, his spirit as high as the mountains themselves.

But now, with time running out, Carlos made a decision that could only come from a heart full of love — he placed Monty in a wheelbarrow and, with one final act of devotion, carried him up the mountain one last time.

Step by step, strangers began to join them. Some offered to help; others walked beside them in silence, their hearts heavy with empathy and tears. Each step brought them closer to the summit, where Monty, despite his frailty, felt the wind against his fur. His nose twitched, and his tail moved ever so gently, as if to say, “I remember.”

When they reached the top, it was more than just a mountain they had climbed — it was a journey of love, sacrifice, and shared memories. Days later, Monty passed peacefully, but that image of Carlos pushing his dying dog up the mountain stayed with the world. It’s a powerful reminder that love never truly dies; it simply finds new heights to rest upon.

In Monty’s final climb, they both reached the summit — not just of a mountain, but of the deepest, most enduring bond between a man and his dog. Love, no matter how heavy, always lifts us to places we never thought possible.