Last night Henry ’slept’ beside us in our bedroom, on a towel on the floor with a little bowl of water next to him.

In the morning, we walked Stella and bought her some treats, then spent an hour or so digging a small grave in Henry’s favourite sunning position. We placed a couple of towels at the bottom and put little Henry on top. Crumpet had made him a special treat of a cheese and vegemite sandwich, and I also placed a couple of corn chips and a liver treat on the towels next to him.

Crumpet covered his little body with jasmine and gave him a little paper crane. We placed calico over him and filled the grave in, crying all the while.

I asked Crumpet to make a little plaque to put next to the grave. I would like it to say:

Here lies Henry. He was a very good dog.

This is one of my favourite shots of Henry and I, taken by Crumpet only a month and a half ago. It’s going to take some time before I can look at it without it getting a little dusty in the room.

We cremated Jill on Thursday. It comforts me a little to believe that maybe, wherever she is right now, she needed a loving animal and Henry volunteered.

Henry is lying in calico on the kitchen floor at the moment. He was put to sleep about half an hour ago after suffering some kind of extended seizure while I was in Hoppers Crossing. Crumpet found him and had to sit with him for three hours.

I feel fucking terrible.