The community Lexington, Virginia is in mourning after a 12 year-old girl was killed trying to save her beloved dog after he ran out into traffic.

Jennarae Goodbar was training her dog Cash outside her home on Saturday when the pet ran out into a busy road. Jennarae did not hesitate to chase after her dog and followed her as she raced in front of a car. The driver, who happened to be a family friend, was not able to stop in time and ended up hitting both Jennarae and Cash.

“Goodbar was chasing the family dog when she entered the roadway and was struck by the vehicle,” said Virginia State Police Senior Trooper R.E. Tackett.

Donna Jean Stuples, Jennarae’s mother, said that her daughter had bought Cash with her own money and that she treated the dog like “her baby,” adding that the two best friends will now be buried together.

“On day of service, [Cash] will be placed in there with [Jennarae] and be buried together,” Stuples said. “She bought her with her own cash. It was her baby.”

The Goodbar family wrote in her obituary that Jennarae “never met a stranger” and that she should be remembered, “as the country girl who was always smiling, never negative, could go from wearing cowboy boots and pants to a dress with Converse in a split second.”

“Jennarae was loved by so many, there are so many people who we can’t even begin to name but just know that she did not meet a stranger and she loved everyone so dearly,” the family added.

A GoFundMe page that was set up to help pay for Jennarae’s funeral and burial expenses has already raised over 37,000. Please pray for her family during this very difficult time.