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For nearly 13 years, Daniel Esparza and his dog Sam were inseparable. Their bond was unwavering, built over a lifetime of shared moments and mutual devotion. “She was my companion for almost 13 years,” Esparza said in an interview with The Dodo. “She was a Labrador, very cute and intelligent.”
As Sam entered her senior years, age began to take its toll. A neurological condition worsened over time, and sadly, before they could go on one final beach trip together, Sam passed away peacefully in her sleep. “We were supposed to have one last trip to the beach for vacation, but her health didn’t let us make it,” Esparza explained. “She fell asleep one day and didn’t wake up.”
Although that last adventure never happened in real life, Esparza found another way to make it possible.
Using his skills in virtual reality technology, Esparza had previously created a 3D scan of Sam while she was sleeping—something he had done on a whim before her passing. In the weeks after losing her, he revisited the scan and began building a digital tribute.
With care and purpose, Esparza designed a peaceful virtual beach setting where he could be with Sam again. Through this immersive digital environment, he visits the beach they never made it to—a space where he can still feel close to her. He posted their beach vacation on X with the caption: “I made a 3D scan of my dog Sam a couple of years ago. She passed away 7 month ago, I still miss her a lot. I still visit her in this beach scene I made in @UnrealEngine in VR because our last trip was supossed to be a little vacation in a beach, but her health didnt let us go.”
“It feels like a window to the past,” he said. “It makes me feel happy to know that I can remember her when I grow older, when my memory may not be the best.”
Though Sam is no longer by his side in the physical world, Esparza holds onto her presence through both memory and innovation. In the virtual world he created, their bond lives on—serene, timeless, and just as meaningful as ever. To see more of Esparza’s creative work, click here. RIP, Sam, you will forever be missed! Scroll to the bottom to visit Sam’s beautiful world.
To visit with Sam, click play below
I made a 3D scan of my dog Sam a couple of years ago. She passed away 7 month ago, I still miss her a lot. I still visit her in this beach scene I made in @UnrealEngine in VR because our last trip was supossed to be a little vacation in a beach, but her health didnt let us go. pic.twitter.com/5hQ1Ob9wCm
— Daniel.exe (@Wolkwhisky) October 31, 2023
