I admit, I was getting a bit emotional by this point. When my childhood dog, Dingo, died, every time I was at my parents' the first few visits after, I thought I heard the jangle of his dog collar. Sometimes, I still hear the friendly woof of a large dog and it puts me in mind of old Dingo.

Plus, our little schnoodle is getting up there now. He's past 12 years old. He's my little puppy shadow. I can't imagine not hearing the clicking of his nails across the floors and the jangle of the tags on his collar coming along behind me.