‘His best friend was by his side’: Dog leads funeral procession for late owner

A heart wrenching video has been shared of a dog leading a funeral procession for his late owner.

Gareth Richards from Peterlee, Durham, was laid to rest last month.

The 36-year-old’s family were determined his devoted Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, Malic, was there.

Gareth ‘idolised’ the dog and would have wanted him at his side no matter what.

Clips show Malic leading the procession as friends and family of Gareth walk behind him.

The video was produced by Julie Stout, co-director at Delanoy Funeral Service, at the request of Gareth’s family.

She said: ‘This funeral service and video were particularly poignant for us as Gareth idolised his dog Malic, they lived together and really were best friends.

‘After speaking at length with his family to arrange the service, we knew we had to make sure that Malic was at Gareth’s funeral just as he was in his life – by his side.’

Malic proudly led the funeral procession (Picture: North News & Pictures Ltd)

Gareth Richards from Peterlee in Durham died aged 36 (Picture: North News & Pictures)

The pair were described as ‘best friends’ until the end (Picture: North News & Pictures)

Since the video was shared on social media, with the permission of Gareth’s family, it has been viewed by thousands of people from across the world.

John Delanoy, of the Delanoy Funeral Service, added: ‘We work tirelessly to give people the send-off they would want and deserve, surrounded by the people that mattered most to them.

‘In Gareth’s case that was his dog Malic and his family, so we made sure they were all there throughout his final journey.

‘We know that it has given his loved ones some comfort knowing that his best friend was there by his side the way it always was before his untimely death.’

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‘Malic was at Gareth’s funeral just as he was in his life – by his side.’