Golden retriever found guarding her late owner's sweater on a bench a mile from home

Tom Montgomery and his brother heard that their neighbour had died. It was sudden. He was 39.

The first thing they did was go and check on his dog. She was a golden retriever, and she went everywhere with him.

Gone

When they got to the house, she was not there. They rang the local rescue, but nobody had brought her in. They started to worry that someone had taken her, so they went looking.

The bench

About a mile from his home, they found her. She was sitting on a bench that looks over a lake. Her owner’s red sweater was hanging over the back of it.

She wouldn’t leave. No amount of cajoling or delicious treats would persuade her. In the end we had no choice but to carry her.Tom Montgomery, on X

Ten years on

Tom kept her. That was ten years ago. He told the story on X on 1 October, ten years to the day, and more than 112,000 people read it.

She’s lived with me ever since, with the old red sweater still in her bed.Tom Montgomery

Tom ended his post by pointing out that her owner was only 39:

Make a will and instructions for your pets, so they will be cared for if the worst happens.Tom Montgomery