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It's hard for anyone to lose a pet. But what about when the pet is a loyal dog, intuitive as an imaginary friend  from a children's book, a hard-working world traveler who has been his owner's companion on countless journalistic missions? In that case, you've got a bonafide tear-jerker. You don't need to have met the shaggy Finn, or even to be a dog-lover, to be moved by British journalist Toby Harnden's tribute to his lost friend.

Finn was rescued by Harnden 14 years ago, and since had become the journalist's go-to friend and companion; accompanying him on road trips and jobs, watching him write his articles and books from the cozy dog bed in the corner of Harnden's office. Finn provided cover when Harnden was traveling and didn't want to be recognized as a journalist, helping him to blend in at bomb scenes and marches, waiting outside while Harnden interviewed, for example, an IRA godfather. Harnden writes, "We had travelled a long way together, from Belfast to Washington to Israel to London and ultimately to the suburbs of northern Virginia but it was clear his journey was over."

Lately the dog had been sick, transformed from his energetic, adventurous self; Harnden writes heartbreakingly of carrying Finn up and down stairs and listening to him yelp with pain.  When the time came, Harnden had his vet put Finn to sleep, as he held him in his arms: "I had anticipated the day Finn died being one of the worst of my life. What I hadn't anticipated was the utter grimness of the next day, the first one without him."