For more than 14 years, Oregon-based photographer Ben Moon and his dog, Denali, were best friends. They traveled all over the West, sharing a "nomadic" lifestyle.
The photographer told BuzzFeed News that at first, he wasn't even sure he wanted a dog. But when he saw Denali at the shelter, they instantly connected. "I don’t know, it was one of those things where I felt like he kind of chose me," he said.
Denali was there for all of Moon's good and bad life moments. One of those times was when Moon was diagnosed with Stage 3+ colorectal cancer in 2004.
A decade after Moon beat cancer, Denali began his own battle against the disease. As it became clear his time was growing short, the pair was filmed by a friend at their favorite place, the beach.
The footage from the day is now a short film, called Denali. The film, told from the dog's point of view, is a tribute to the special bond between a man and his dog.
In the film, a voiceover for Denali says he's "pretty sure" Moon knows that he's dying, and reflects on all of the good and hard times they shared together.
He discusses how the two camped, did yoga, and explored together. He says he eventually became "too handsome to ignore," so Moon often photographed him.
As their time together grew short, Denali says he thinks most people would have left their dog at home, but Moon insisted on seeing their favorite places one more time.
The film concludes that humans can learn a lot from dogs. "When someone you love walks through the door, even if it happens five times a day, you should go totally insane with joy."
