The Bethel community gathered to say goodbye to Luna, the town’s beloved Great Pyrenees, on Friday, June 30 at her farewell tour at Bethel High School. Community members old and young gathered in the high school parking lot on Friday morning celebrating Luna’s life.
After nine years of being a “constant friend and protector of all the children at Bethel Acres school,” Meaghan Hadley Olson, Luna’s owner, announced via Facebook she would be letting Luna go after discussing her declining condition with Luna’s vet.
Luna’s journey to Bethel began 12 years ago as the first rescue dog at 1 Day Ranch. According to the website, 1 Day Ranch is a 501c3 nonprofit organization in Bethel dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of horses, small livestock and dogs who have been the victims of abuse and neglect.
In Luna’s earlier years, she was an “amazing livestock guard-dog.” When Olson moved to Bethel Acres nine years ago, she said Luna took it upon herself to protect the Bethel Public Schools children. “Luna had a way of finding exactly who needed some extra love whenever they needed it most,” said Olson. “Over the years and especially recently I’ve heard more and more stories from kids and adults alike about times when they were having a hard day, had received bad news, had gotten a bad grade on a test, or they just were emotionally struggling and Luna would just show up out of nowhere and sit with them.”
Luna frequented Bethel football games and baseball games, played with children at school and occasionally gave school administration trouble. “I can’t count the number of times I got calls from the school asking me to come get her when I thought she was secured in our property only to find out that she broke out and was hanging at the school again,” said Olson.
Luna could not attend the high school football games, but managed to sneak inside the stadium occasionally and one time, got the police called on her. Olson said one night during a football game, she received a call from the police saying Luna had broken into a car in the parking lot. Turns out, the owner left the car unlocked and Luna did not want to get out because she was comfortable. “That was one of my favorite calls I’ve ever got,” a sheriff deputy at the time said. “I made dispatch repeat themselves like three times because I didn’t believe I was having to respond to a call about a dog breaking into a car, but then I got to know Luna and I realized that definitely tracks for her!” Luckily, the owner wasn’t upset and everyone got a good laugh from Luna’s antics.
“I think it’s impossible to not miss an animal that brought so much joy and comfort to so many people.” Olson said. Luna brought many people joy in the Bethel community, evident on her Facebook page. “Let me just say as a parent and dog rescuer, I have always felt a little safer knowing Luna was doing her rounds at the school, protecting her flock,” commented Shayla Gentry. I am sad to see her go and truly feel the loss already.” Another Bethel resident Thomas E. Tollet commented: “We love you, Luna. Thank you for watching over our kids all these years.”
In honor of Luna, 1 Day Ranch started Luna’s Legacy. “This fund will go towards our educational program to help teach kids about kindness and empathy towards animals, compassion and love for others, and the importance of their community.” Donations can be made in person, via PayPal to 1DayRanch@ gmail.com, via Venmo to @OneDayRanch, or via Cashapp to $1DayRanch. More information about Luna’s legacy can be found on the 1 Day Ranch website (1dayranch.org) and Facebook page (facebook.com/1dayranch). Also, use the hashtag #LoveLikeLuna on social media to share a story about her.
“Just want to say thank you to the town of Bethel Acres for loving Luna so well all these years and for supporting our family and the 1 Day Ranch organization as well,” said Olson. “There isn’t anywhere else we would want to be.”
