A Dying Dog Loved Visitors, So the Whole Neighborhood Came

Faygo had a favorite spot at his home in Lake Barcroft, Virginia: the corner of the front lawn. The 12-year-old goldendoodle loved watching people go past, especially if someone stopped to scratch his ears. He had plenty of affection inside the house, but he was always ready for another visitor.

Then his owner, Michelle Martin, learned that Faygo was running out of time. He had prostate cancer, and by early February 2025 his health had declined so much that the family was preparing to say goodbye.

Martin wanted his remaining days to be full of the things he enjoyed. She knew exactly where to start.

An Invitation to Stop and Say Hello

Faygo had been part of the family since he was ten months old. Martin and her husband had adopted him as a rescue and named him after the Detroit soft-drink company, a nod to their Michigan roots.

For more than nine years, he had watched the neighborhood from behind the fence. People passed on walks and drove along the street, and Faygo was always hopeful that somebody might come over.

After his cancer diagnosis in December 2024, the family arranged a visit from a hospice veterinarian. They thought they might have to say goodbye almost immediately, but the vet told them Faygo still had some good days left.

On February 3, Martin sent a note to the neighborhood email list. She explained that Faygo was nearing the end of his life and asked whether anyone passing the house might stop to pet him.

It was a small request. Martin figured a handful of neighbors might come by during their usual walks.

The Front Lawn Became a Gathering Place

The response started that same day. Martin and Faygo spent nearly five hours in the yard while people came to see him. Some knew him from their walks; others were meeting the friendly dog for the first time.

And they kept coming. Neighbors brought greeting cards, treats and pictures of dogs they had loved and lost. On some afternoons, visitors lined up for their turn at the fence.

By early March, Martin estimated that at least 100 people had visited. She had never imagined that strangers would make a special trip to her house just to spend a few minutes with her dog.

Faygo seemed delighted with the arrangement. He soaked up the attention, leaning into the hands reaching toward him and enjoying the company.

Martin had expected the visits to make him happy. She was surprised by how much they helped her, too.

His Biggest Fan Brought Cookies

One visitor, Sharon Pacchiana, hadn’t known Faygo before she saw Martin’s message. A friend told her about the invitation, and she went over to meet him.

That first visit turned into a habit. Pacchiana began stopping by almost every day, often bringing homemade banana-and-peanut-butter cookies.

As Faygo’s appetite faded, those cookies remained a favorite. Martin said he might turn down other food but still eagerly accept one of Sharon’s treats.

Pacchiana even came back just two days after knee surgery. She was recovering herself, but she wanted to see Faygo and spend more time with him.

Her affection wasn’t unusual. Some neighbors who had never met Faygo before the invitation became regular visitors, while others stopped by to sit with Martin and talk.

Some Visitors Needed Him, Too

One was Jane Mattoon, whose dog Bailey had died only a few months earlier. When she read Martin’s note, she understood how painful those last days with a beloved pet could be.

Mattoon visited more than once. She said the chance to spend time with Faygo, play with him and say goodbye had brought her comfort after losing Bailey.

Another neighbor, Marcia Grabowski, came back regularly. She wanted to give Faygo attention, but she was also concerned about Martin, who was watching the dog she’d loved for more than a decade grow weaker.

For Martin, those conversations became part of the visits. People shared stories about their own pets, offered encouragement and sometimes simply stayed beside her while Faygo enjoyed another round of attention.

When The Washington Post reported the story in March, people were still coming to see him. His family knew the visits couldn’t change his illness, but they had made this difficult stretch of time warmer and less lonely.

At first, the neighbors had come for Faygo.

Some of them discovered they needed those afternoons just as much as he did.