Man creates Facebook event. Hundreds show up to join dying dog for final walk on favorite beach

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For 18 years, Mark Woods and his Whippet, Walnut, were inseparable.
Woods welcomed Walnut into his life during a time when he was seeking companionship. The pair enjoyed visiting parks in London, and Walnut even hung out at Woods’s scuba diving center, where he befriended many customers.
Walnut accompanied Woods when he moved to Cornwall in 2012. There, they found their new favorite place—Porth Beach.
“He always loved getting his feet wet and having his toes in the sand,” said Woods.
Sadly, after 18 years, Walnut’s health was declining. For eight months, Woods had to help him eat and walk up and down stairs when he became too weak to move by himself. Woods then came to the difficult conclusion that it was time to say goodbye to Walnut.
But before he could say goodbye for good, Woods wanted to make sure Walnut’s last hours were filled with love, and he saw no other fitting way to do so than by taking him for one last walk at his favorite beach.
Woods invited Facebook users to join him and Walnut on their final walk together. When he arrived at the beach, what he saw blew his mind away.
Despite the cold and gloomy weather, hundreds of supporters surprised Woods and Walnut at Porth Beach.
“It was an incredibly humbling experience for me,” Woods stated. “I had no idea anyone would come … (so) as I approached the beach and saw the huge crowds on the beach, it dawned on me that something special was unfolding for Walnut’s last walk.”
Some visitors even traveled long distances to be part of the celebration for Walnut’s life.
“Mark has been amazing, for him to do this for his whippet is just amazing,” said Robert Davies from St. Austell. “It has brought dog lovers and owners together everywhere. Just look at this turnout. But he’s not doing this for publicity, he’s doing it because he wants Walnut’s final hours to be special.”
Many were moved to tears at Wood’s tender gesture for Walnut.
Walnut met many new friends, human and canine.
“He was very calm and seemed happy to me,” said Woods, “but he also looked so very tired and I believe ready for his final walk to heaven.”
The crowd at the beach wasn’t the only support Woods and Walnut received.
Many Internet users who weren’t able to attend the walk sent their words of support to them and walked with their dogs in honor of Walnut, posting their pictures on Twitter with the hashtag #walkwithwalnut.
“We have received tens of thousands of messages from all over the world. I know that thousands of people are walking their dogs at this time today, people from Australia, America, Manchester, everywhere. And it’s not just dog walkers, it’s other animals as well.”
Walnut’s final walk was an overwhelmingly special event, filling his final moments with affection and peace.
Although Woods had to carry Walnut most of the way, he was still able to walk for a bit and play with the many other dogs that had joined them at the beach.
Later that afternoon, Walnut passed away peacefully in the company of his family.
But on that day, Walnut undoubtedly knew he was loved. ads