A few weeks ago, I lost my best friend and loyal companion. He had just turned seven years old when he was diagnosed with severe kidney disease, and despite several false hopes and attempts to prolong his life, he rapidly deteriorated and succumbed at home in my arms.

In these troubled and violent times, it feels somehow wrong to grieve over the loss of a dog, but his death hit me hard and left a gaping hole in my life. I miss the guy more than I care to admit, which is strange, considering I spent the first six months of his life trying to offload him.

It wasn't my idea to get a pet, and I was less than enthusiastic when my sister showed up at my door seven years ago with a tiny puppy that peed on my foot. He was the runt of the litter and the only one her friend couldn't sell, so I reluctantly agreed to take him in until a more suitable owner could be found.

Having never owned a dog; I was hopelessly unprepared for the carnage that followed. In just a few weeks, this tiny but exuberant creature managed to destroy my house, wreck my social life, and empty my bank account. While he was busy doubling in size, I spent ages looking for the right family to adopt him, but when the opportunity arose, it was already too late. I was hopelessly attached to the guy and couldn't bear to part with him.

It's fair to say he outsmarted me from the very beginning. Using nothing but love and loyalty, he became an indispensable part of my world, and I couldn't have imagined life without him. He kept me fit with long walks around town, and on my days off, I took him with me to visit friends and family or to my sister's cottage, where he would swim with me in the lake. He grew into a big dog—much bigger than anyone expected and bigger even than his siblings. Not bad for the runt of the litter, but sadly, his life was to be tragically short.

No one told me about that bit, and this is why I will never own another pet. It stands to reason that it always ends badly, and his death was particularly distressing.

I told my sister never to do that to me again. I love animals, but I'm not meant to be a pet owner. They're too demanding and expensive, and they cramp my style. But when she left, I cried like a baby.

Rest in peace, my special friend.