Let us begin with a warning.
This story is going to make you cry. There’s not a whole lot you can do about it, and it’s absolutely fine to shed a tear.
We just wanted you to be prepared.
Okay, here goes.
Mark Woods, of Cornwall, was due to say one last goodbye to his pet dog Walnut this morning.
But before the whippet was put to sleep, he took Walnut out for one last walk…and invited hundreds of animal lovers to join him.
The 18-year-old pet has been in ill-health for a while, but Woods wanted to give the beloved dog a fitting send-off.
And hundreds of people from Cornwall (and further afield) joined him for the emotional journey.
Mark Woods says a huge thank you to hundreds of people who turned out to walk with him & Walnut today on their last stroll #walkwithwalnut pic.twitter.com/tbDKfogG70
— Heidi Davey (@HeidiDavey) November 12, 2016
Woods was blown away by the reaction from strangers who caught wind of his plan, and welcomed the crowd to Porth Beach on England’s south-west coast.
Ahead of the trip he gave walnut a meal of burgers and custard cremes, before taking the dog – who he has had since he was a puppy – out to his favourite beach.
The journey was documented with the #walkforwalnut hashtag, and filmed by BBC Spotlight, with those joining the pair on the walk stopping to stroke Walnut as he spent most of the journey in his owner’s arms.
Hundreds of people join Mark & Walnut for their last stroll on Porth beach #walkwithwalnut pic.twitter.com/8a2TfmC99h
— BBC South West (@BBCSpotlight) November 12, 2016
Don’t mind us, we’re just off to have a little cry.
