Zoe was a Welsh rescue dog (Border Collie X) that we adopted from the Dogs Trust when she was about 7 or 8 months old, she died on this day (Friday 27 May) in 2011. She had been a wonderful friend and companion for over 14 years.

I have very special memories of her running free on the Welsh mountains in the Rhondda Valley.

Her death came at a very difficult time in my life, and losing her magnified the emotions I was going through at the time. I was living on my own, and had a truly dreadful Bank Holiday weekend, one finishing with a very depressing birthday alone on the Monday.

Never diminish the emotions and feelings people have on the death of a dog, or other animal companion.