Dog lovers united to give a poorly canine a beautiful farewell hours before she was put down.
Sarah Keith, 44, was joined by dozens of strangers on her last walk with her collie before she said one last goodbye to her four-legged friend due to ill health.
The heartbroken dog owner wanted to make sure 12-year-old Ella 'went out with a bang' with one final trip to her favourite beach.
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Sarah adopted Ella aged one after the farmer who first reared her realised she wasn't going to make a good sheepdog.
Ella, who had been diagnosed with oral cancer, was joined by dogs on her final walk.
The results from the veterinary biopsy were shared with Sarah on Friday, 3 February.
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Because of the pooch's age and breed, she decided the treatment that might prolong Ella's life would only result in further 'suffering'.
“It would have been selfish for me to prolong her suffering, just because I didn’t want to say goodbye to her," she recalled about making the heartbreaking decision.
Sarah posted on social media on Saturday, 4 February asking fellow dog owners to join her for the day out at Fraisthorpe beach in East Yorkshire at 12 noon on Monday (6 February).
She was amazed when more than 30 dogs and roughly 25 owners greeted her on the sands after her touching call out was shared over 1,200 times.
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“There were people who I’d never met them. You don’t know who they are," Sarah shared.
"But it’s lovely they showed a bit of humility and grace when something like this happens.
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“The only time I cried was when someone hugged me. There was also a lady that made a hand-stitched keepsake.
“And there was a group of people with border collies, and Ella loved running with them. At one point there were six or seven going after the same ball.
“She was the best dog I have ever had, and I have had lots of dogs.”
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Tearful Sarah said her dog, who also suffered from arthritis, had loved running around with other dogs before she was put to sleep only a few hours after her final beach trip.
“I thought people who knew her would maybe come down.
“Obviously, a lot of people are working on Monday, but I didn’t want to mess anyone around over the weekend.
“The post just got shared and shared. And I had people from all parts of the country who never were going to be able to make the walk sending me messages.
“When I arrived, there was probably more than 30 dogs, and in the region of 25 owners.
“There was even a group with leads on, with not particularly social dogs, but they hand wanted to support in their own way.”
Gregory Robinson