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.