Actor Chase Stokes Steps Up As Ultimate Dog Dad to Kelsea Ballerini’s Pup After Cancer Diagnosis

Country star Kelsea Ballerini has been receiving support from her partner Chase Stokes after Ballerini made the sad announcement that her beloved dog 'Dibs' has inoperable cancer in his heart.

Stokes and Ballerini have been dating since early 2023.

People Magazine reports We're just taking it day by day right now," Stokes tells PEOPLE of how he and Ballerini have been supporting one another in the wake of the diagnosis. "I mean, it's one of those things that when it happens as fast as it does, you just try to do the next right thing."

Related: Kelsea Ballerini Makes Sad Announcement About Health of Her Beloved Dog

The article also adds, "Stokes reposted Ballerini's Instagram Stories about Dibs, adding, "It's been a rough few days here. But our man is in good spirits and eating all his favorite foods."

"Day by day, we've got a road ahead, but we're going to make it the most enjoyable, loving days for him," he wrote.

I can't even imagine how hard it must be for these two, especially since Ballerini has been a dog mom to Dibs for over nine years. It's so wonderful that they have each other - not only to take care of each other but precious Dibs too.

How to Support a Friend With a Sick Pet

Just like our human friends may have family members who get sick, they can also have cats or dogs that face health challenges. This can be a frightening and sad time for pet owners, and knowing how to provide care and support can be so helpful for both your friend and their furry companion. Your presence and understanding during this difficult period can make a world of difference for everyone involved.

First of all, offer to listen. Your friend may just need a sounding board to talk about how they are feeling and all of their concerns about their pet's health.

You can offer to go with to veterinarian appointments, or watch any children in the family when your friend takes their pet to appointments. Sometimes just having someone else there can help relieve stress.

You can offer to help with daily jobs like walking the dog, feeding, or administering medication. This can provide a much-needed break for your friend. As not fun of a job as this is, you can even offer to clean up any yard waste your friend has.

You can bring your friend a meal you've prepared or purchased, a gift card to a local coffee shop or a pet supply store, or even a care package with some cozy socks and a new novel for them and some treats for their dog.

You can even offer to help with financial assistance or start a GoFundMe for your friend to help pay for vet bills.

The most important thing is just being there. Being there for your friend during this tough time can make a significant difference in their own emotional well-being as they deal with the challenges of caring for a sick pet.