I always called my Vins my little gentleman. He was so loving, gentle and caring. Every night he would come to me and call me to bed — if I stayed up too long, Vins would lie down beside me, his quiet breathing lulling me to sleep. We always fell asleep together, and for me, that was the greatest comfort.

He was incredibly strong. Even in old age — brave, resilient, but always with a tender soul. He had a remarkable trait — he loved cats. He never showed aggression towards them, on the contrary — he was drawn to them, curious, friendly. It was so touchingly kind and so true to his nature — open, kind, affectionate.

When he turned two, another dog, Santa, came into our lives — not entirely planned. And now I look back on that with such joy. I knew Vins had fun with her. They became a true team — playing together, sleeping together. There was a special bond between them, and it gave me such peace to know he wasn’t lonely even when I wasn’t there.

From his puppyhood, Vins loved travelling. We went to Poland together, walked the snowy trails in the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia, visited the seaside, and played in the mountains.

Another of his quirks — Vins absolutely hated being photographed! And I, as a photographer, of course dreamt of beautiful portraits. But every time the lens turned his way, he would look away, close his eyes or simply walk off. That was so him — a little stubborn, utterly real.

He was always there, looking at me with love, and I knew — we understood each other without words. He was my friend, my calm, my shadow and my light.

One of his greatest joys was snow. He waited eagerly for winter, and when the first snow fell, he turned back into a puppy — running, rolling, burying his nose and being completely happy. The memory of those moments still warms me even in my darkest days.

At 14 and a half years old, he suddenly became ill. It was one of the most frightening nights of my life. But even in his final hours he remained as he always was — gentle. He waited until I fell asleep and quietly passed away beside me on the pillow, sparing me from witnessing the moment. It was as though he wanted to protect me from even greater pain.

It was unbearable to think of leaving him somewhere alone. That’s why I’m so grateful I found your company. The way you handle goodbyes is love itself. Thank you for the video confirmation, for your respect, for helping me send him off with dignity.

I ordered a small stone from Vins’s ashes, and it comforts me to know he is still with me. This is his new place in our home — a place of light, memory and love. He will always remain with me.

Please know: you don’t just provide a service — you help keep the bond of hearts alive, even beyond death. And for that, you have my deepest gratitude.