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Hunter Hayes shared a heartfelt tribute as he mourns the loss of his dog, Cole. The Louisiana-born singer-songwriter posted a series of photos of Cole, a retired racing greyhound, on Instagram on Monday (January 8). His caption offered a sweet message about what his dog meant to him and taught him over the years, cherishing the “incredible adventures” and “life lessons” they shared.
“Cole - as he was named after his racing retirement - has finished his final lap around the sun on earth and has gone on to a retirement in a better and more suitable place for such a distinguished gentleman,” Hayes wrote in his tribute to Cole, quickly garnering sympathetic messages from other Instagram users and fellow pet owners. “I’ve never known a man that has taught me so much. How to be still, how to appreciate nature and how to create peace. I am so full of gratitude for all of the incredible adventures we had together and for all the life lessons he taught me like no one else could. Cheers sir, thank you for rescuing me. You will be missed.”
Hayes had known for a long time that he wants to adopt a retired racing dog, and adopted Cole via the Greyhound Pets of America, he shared with CMT in 2015. The country star said at that time that adopting Cole was “one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. …I’m extremely happy and more importantly, he’s happy.”
The Red Sky artist also jokingly referred to Cole as his “roommate” and “the boss” of the hose when he toured PEOPLE through his new home in the California mountains in 2021. Hayes said his then-11-year-old dog was “the youngest he's ever been, spiritually. They told me when I adopted him that racing greyhounds tend to get younger as they get older, that their puppy side comes out, and it has.”