Exciting times are ahead for the cast of Little People, Big World with the birth of Zach Roloff and wife Tori’s healthy son Jackson. But the birth of their first child has been a bittersweet affair, as their beloved dog Sully, also fondly called “Inspector Sullivan,” had died of cancer only months before.
Tuesday’s episode of Little People, Big World started off by breaking the news that Zach and Tori’s beloved Sully had been diagnosed with cancer. The cancer eventually spread to most of the pup’s organs before he died five days later , as reported by the Inquisitr . Sully was three years old.
Little People, Big World’s latest episode saw Zach and Tori Roloff hugging and crying as they paid respects to Sully before burying him on the Roloff farm, next to three other family dogs who had died in the past, the Daily Mail reports.
Zach opened up about how grief-stricken the Roloff family was about Sully’s loss, explaining that it was especially difficult because they were excited about the beloved dog being a part of their growing family after the arrival of their baby. Their son Jackson was born on May 12, a few months after Zach and Tori buried Sully.
“We were supposed to make a family together,” Mr. Roloff said in the emotional Little People, Big World episode. “Sully was supposed to take care of the baby and be his friend. Just tons of dreams and visions were crushed.”
Zach and Tori Roloff took to Instagram to pay emotional tributes to Sully.
“Sully was a friend of ours and we are going to miss him dearly! Thanks to all our friends and family for the love and support the last few days! He was truly the best dog anyone could ever ask for,” Zach wrote on his Instagram post, which came with a photo collage of their dear pup.
Tori Roloff also let Little People, Big World fans know how special the beloved mutt had been to the family, writing how grief-stricken they were upon learning that Sully had cancer, and remembering how he brought unabashed joy to the Roloff family when he was still living. She recalled how they spent his last five days of life spoiling and loving him.
Little People, Big World fans expressed their sympathies and condolences to the Roloff family on the couple’s Facebook page .
“For all of us who have lost a beloved pet, we know what a hole that loss leaves in our hearts and in our lives. Pass along our heartfelt sympathies,” one fan commented.
Not long after the latest episode of Little People, Big World went off air on Tuesday, Tori took to Instagram to post another touching tribute to Sully.
“Tonight’s episode was one of the hardest stories I’ve ever had to share. Never did I think so soon I would say goodbye to my sully. There were so many dreams and visions that were destroyed when he passed. We always saw our family of four romping together at the farm. I always saw Baby J tugging and pulling on Sul and running through fields together. We saw road trips and walks and summer evenings spent all together. Our little family. The pain is still unreal whenever I think of our scup and how Jackson won’t get to meet his big brother, but we know he is looking over us and Jackson has his very own guardian angel in the sky.???? #inspectorsullivan”
Any animal lover can understand the amount of grief that comes with losing a beloved dog, especially one that’s as loving and devoted as Sully. That said, Tori and Zach Roloff — not to mention the viewers of Little People, Big World — still has a lot to look forward to with the birth of their first child Jackson.
[Featured Image by Tori Roloff /Instagram]