'He went very quickly and in my arms': Walnut the dog's heartbroken owner says his beloved 18-year-old whippet was put to sleep minutes after emotional last walk on the beach with hundreds of supportive animal lovers

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The heartbroken owner of Walnut has said his final goodbye to his beloved whippet after having him put to sleep minutes after hundreds of animal lovers joined him on the beach on the dog's last ever walk. 

Mark Woods stole the nation's heart after he appealed for fellow dog lovers to join him on his last walk with Walnut, the 18-year-old whippet he has had since a puppy.

Posting on Facebook shortly after the lovable pet had been put down, Mark described how Walnut 'went very quickly and in my arms', with his three other whippets in attendance. 

Hordes of well-wishers, many accompanied by their own dogs, joined Mark and his family earlier in the day on a wind swept Porth beach in Newquay for Walnut's emotional farewell.

Mark carried Walnut across the beach in Cornwall as his health has deteriorated in old age and he's no longer able to walk.

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Hundreds of animal lovers turned out to support a heartbroken dog owner as he took his beloved pet on its final walk

Posting on Facebook shortly after the lovable pet had been put down, Mark described how Walnut 'went very quickly and in my arms', with his three other whippets in attendance

Mark carried Walnut across the beach in Cornwall as his health has deteriorated in old age and he's no longer able to walk 

People queue up to get a glimpse of or stroke Walnut (left), who had to carried by owner Mark due to his deteriorating health

Hundreds of animal lovers joined Mark and his family on the beach to get a look at Walnut as he enjoyed his last day out

Hordes of well-wishers, many accompanied by their own dogs, joined Mark and his family on a wind swept Porth beach in Newquay for Walnut's emotional farewell

Covered in a chequered blanket to keep him warm, strangers comforted Walnut and children came over to stroke the dog as they strolled past the water's edge.

Before his best friend's death, Mark wanted to take him for a stroll on his favourite beach for his final farewell. Despite Mark's two marriages and three engagements, he's had Walnut all the way through.

The dog owner has stolen the nation's heart, including TV presenters Eammon Holmes and Ruth Langsford, who had to hold back tears yesterday when Walnut appeared on ITV's This Morning show.

Mark and Walnut's story has been shared thousands of times, and people from all over the UK have sent their support.

Mark Woods won the hearts of millions across the UK after appearing on morning television to talk about Walnut's last walk

Newquay residents show their support as Mark Woods takes his dog Walnut for a final walk on Porth beach

Mark Woods stole the nation's heart after he appealed for fellow dog lovers to join him on his last walk with Walnut, the 18-year-old whippet he has had since a puppy

Covered in a chequered blanket to keep him warm, strangers comforted Walnut and children came over to stroke the dog as they strolled past the waters edge

Walnut is taken into the water of Porth Beach for one last time by owner Mark (left), while he is greeted by children and other dogs (right)

Dog owners from across the county brought their own pets along for the final walk, with many jumping in and out of the water

Mark Woods first appealed to other pet owners to join him via a message on Facebook, before appearing on terrestrial television yesterday

Speaking before the walk, Mark said: 'I think that all pets are special to everybody, I've got three other whippets, but there's something special about Walnut.

'He's been with me through some very difficult times in my life and he's just got me through them, both physically and mentally.

'We've shared a lot of dramas, a lot of fun and a lot of shenanigans and he's exceptionally special. Eighteen years is a long time to build up a bond of friendship. We normally walk alone on the beach of a morning.

'It just felt the right thing to do to share a walk for a change, we have the most beautiful beaches in Newquay, a lovely community here and a lot of people have dogs.'

Mark has spoiled Walnut with his favourite treats, burgers and custard cremes, in his final days.

The dog owner has stolen the nation's heart, including TV presenters Eammon Holmes and Ruth Langsford, who had to hold back tears yesterday when Walnut appeared on ITV's This Morning show

Mark Woods kisses  and holds on to Walnut back home in the garden before taking him to Porth beach for a final walk

Before his best friend's death, Mark wanted to take him for a stroll on his favourite beach for his final farewell. Despite Mark's two marriages and three engagements, he's had Walnut all the way through

Mark Woods' wife Lisa holds on to the 18-year-old whippet Walnut, who has been with Mark ever since he was a puppy