Pet owners share bittersweet pictures of their furry companions.

Grieving the loss of a pet can be much like a family member – our furry friends leave behind a hole that can never be quite filled. Once gone, the absence of their happy faces and wagging tails hangs over us like a dense grey cloud.

Despite the sadness we feel when we lose a pet, nothing will compare to the joy they brought to our lives.

Mia Freedman recently adopted a dog from the Sydney Dogs and Cats home (post continues…)

To honour the lives of their beloved animals, people have been sharing the first and last photos they took of their four-legged best friends. (A hat tip to Dodo and Imgur for the touching idea.)

Click through to see the heartwarming compilation.