How Salem the Dog is Helping Taylor Hill Heal After Losing "Soul Dog" to Cancer

A beloved pet is impossible to forget, especially when they grow up alongside us in our most formative years. Supermodel Taylor Hill adopted her "soul dog" Tate shortly after turning 18 years old and cared for him until his untimely passing in 2023. Now, Hill is picking up the pieces and mending her dog mom's heart with the help of her rescued German shepherd Salem.

Growing Up Alongside Tate

Hill is an American supermodel with an impressive background in both editorial and runway. She was a Victoria's Secret Angel from 2014 to 2018 and has modeled for Ralph Lauren, Vogue, Michael Kors, and more.

Hill has been modeling professionally since she was 14 years old, but once she turned 18, she found herself facing a new sense of loneliness she hadn't felt while living at home with her parents.

"I was really, really lonely," Hill recalls. "'When I was home, I was alone, and when I would go to set, it felt like I was alone, and I wanted this sense of companionship. And I associated dogs with companionship and love from having them as a child, so I thought that it might be a good idea for me to get a dog."

Hill soon learned that nothing helps you learn responsibility like adopting a puppy as a young adult, as she and Tate conquered most of Hill's 20s together.

"I had no idea what I was doing," Hill says. "I had responsibility with my family dogs, but it's very different when it's just you. But it was, in the end, the perfect timing for me because of everything that Tate became in my life. He taught me responsibility, caring for someone other than myself, so I'm really grateful to him for that."

Tate & Taylor: Then and Now

Tate the Labradoodle was not just Hill's companion but also her muse, inspiring her to launch the site Tate & Taylor, "your one-stop-shop for guides, shopping, and expert advice" in the pet space. Tate & Taylor places a special focus on small businesses with quality pet products with the ultimate goal of empowering pet parents to make more informed purchasing decisions for their fur babies.

"We have big goals and dreams in terms of being able to help people shop for their pets better and take better care of them," Hill said.

Hill had hoped to share such goals and continue to build the business alongside Tate for several more years, but Tate sadly lost a brave battle against lymphoma in 2023, passing away at the age of nine.

"I thought he would be around for a lot longer than he was, and I always envisioned us doing all this together," Hill says. "When I did lose him, it was it was difficult because I-I felt like a piece of everything I've built is gone. But you know, I slowly started, feeling like 'Well, it may be this is all happening for a reason.'"

Hill then channeled her grief into various give-back efforts, including the launch of the F*ck Cancer collection on Tate & Taylor; 100% of the collection's profits are donated to the Buddy Fund at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, which is where Tate's cancer was treated.

"How can I give back with my business or how can I make an impact and help others?" Hill asks. "Because I felt like I got a lot of support and a lot of help from around me, especially when I shared that [Tate] was sick."

How Salem Helped Hill Heal

In addition to philanthropy, Hill also stumbled upon a surprising way to heal. She didn't believe it at first, but Hill realized her heart was ready to let another dog in mere months after losing Tate. Enter Salem, an all-black German shepherd Hill adopted from Animal Aid USA after they rescued him from a poor living situation.

"I didn't expect to ever want to get another dog, especially right away," Tate says. "But I feel like [Salem] was exactly what I needed. It's so weird how sometimes dogs come into your lives at the right moment even when you think 'Maybe I'll never love again.'"

Salem is so much more than a good boy who loves chomping on ice and romping around the dog park—his adoption sparked a healing journey for both dog and dog mom.

"The first six months of his life were extremely tough, and he didn't know how to be a puppy. When I brought Salem home, he was timid, shy, nervous—he never had a toy before," Hill says. "To see him slowly start opening up and learn how to be a dog was such a beautiful thing that it was healing because I was helping to heal him, and then, at the same time, he was helping me heal and grieve Tate."

Hill's Advice to Pet Parents

If you're looking to get a dog of your own, Hill has two key pieces of advice to impart on hopeful pet parents.

Adopt Don't Shop

Hill adopted both Tate and Salem from local shelters. "If you look around enough and talk to enough people, you can find almost any dog in a shelter," Hill says. "Salem is a purebred German shepherd, and he's all black, which is really rare as well—7% of German shepherds are black dogs. Those are dogs that people actively look for, and there they are in the shelter."

Be Patient

Becoming a dog parent is no small feat, but with the proper amount of patience and understanding, you will bond with your new pup in no time.

"It's just like a human relationship," Hill says. "It's a two-way street. You have to give them time, give them patience, let them get to know you, and vice versa."

With the right attitude, you'll find your soul dog in no time!