We had to make the very sad decision last week to let our little dog Looney go. Looney was with us since we moved to Italy from Ireland and featured in every book in the Rosie Life In Italy series.

She had surgery in July to remove cysts (one was cancerous) and sadly they came back aggressively in November. She was 14 and had been my constant shadow – always by my side, on my bed, and supervising the household.

She looked like a muppet, hated being groomed, welcomed every new animal arrival with open paws, and even nursed our two kittens (Spooky and Moonface) when they arrived. Yes. She fed them like a wet nurse.

We miss her terribly, but we are so grateful for the joy, trust and love she brought into our lives. Anyone who has loved a pet will understand the particular kind of heartbreak that goes with making such a difficult decision.