Saying the last farewell to your four legged fur baby is never easy. Sometimes we have to make the call and other times we don't get that opportunity, as it is taken out of our hands. What is the same, the overwhelming feeling of love and sadness. Last May, I had to say goodbye to my dog Monty. I knew the day was coming he was 17yo and he was beginning to struggle. Not wanting him to suffer I had to make the call many of us animal lovers just dread. For the sake of dignity, it was time to let him go. It was a heartbreaking decision and I was with him until the very end. I couldn't and would never leave him. I felt it was important for him to sense me being there as he took his final breath.

I dearly miss him, I randomly burst into tears, I looked for him where he used to sleep in the corner of the room. I still miss his paws clicking on the floor and of course our early morning walks. As for Alfie, I so miss his mischievous beagle ways and his bark.

I just want to say that it's ok to mourn the loss of our four legged friends and we can remember them fondly and no you don't have to get over the loss after a day or so. I'm certainly not going rush and still to this day I really do miss my boys. At the time I was asked if and when am I getting another dog? The honest answer was at that time I really don't know - I probably will have another dog, I'm a huge dog lover but it will be when the time is right I guess. I've had dogs for the last 25 years or so, so not having one around to cuddle is something very new and raw at the moment. A dog certainly does touch the heart, becoming a huge part of the family and are very much loved throughout their short existence with us. I did get a dog, a Lagotto Romagnolo and we love him to bits. He’s just celebrated his first birthday and he is dearly loved by us all. He certainly makes me smile and I enjoy our long walks.

What is the point of this post?

This right here... and a few other images of the dogs I’ve photographed that I know are no longer here! So a little memorial post to them and a thanks for them being our furry best friends over the years and for loving us unconditionally.

I can honestly say that this image means the absolute world to me as it's probably the only image I have of both my boys, (that are sadly no longer here), of Alfie and Monty sat together where they are actually looking at me. This is going off to print - minus the logo so I can proudly display it on the wall in the lounge! There I can look at it and remember the boys as they were then.

So my plea to you as a person who has lost a dog, if you are thinking of booking your dog in for a photoshoot, just do it. Time is precious for dogs and we never know when we will have to say our fond farewells.

When time stopped just for a moment and memories were made forever!