Henry Cavill has paid tribute to his beautiful dog, Meat, a year after his heartbreaking death.
The Witcher actor shared the French bulldog with his girlfriend, Natalie Viscuso, and they would frequently be joined by the pooch on their travels around the world.
Last April, Meat tragically died shortly after returning back in the UK – following a battle with pneumonia.
Taking to Instagram, the 40-year-old penned a lengthy message, sharing his devastation on the one-year anniversary of their loss.
‘Today marks one year since Meat (our French bulldog) decided to shuffle off this mortal plane and continue on his journey,’ he began a strong of snaps of Meat. ‘I have to say, I hadn’t previously felt pain quite like the pain I felt when Meat died.
‘I’d only know him for three years, but in those three years he and I made such incredible progress together, and he completely changed my outlook on French Bulldogs.
‘He was deaf, so I learned how to use body language to communicate properly with him. He couldn’t stand other dogs, but we got to a place of tolerance with Kal (my Akita). He survived a very complicated cancer removal surgery.
‘He travelled to far flung lands without complaint. He would come looking for me at night if I stayed up playing computer games too late. He would be ferociously protective over Natalie, but learned to trust Kal and me for guidance.
‘He fell ill and recovered a number of times. He enjoyed many a backpack ride once he got too tired to make any decent length walks.’
‘At the end he fell ill with a pneumonia,’ Henry continued. ‘I’ll never forget the expression on his face, desperately asking me for help on the way to the vet in Turkey because he couldn’t breath.
‘Once there, however, he held strong and recovered to such a point that we felt hope, but it turns out he was just waiting for us to bring him home. He passed away peacefully in England.
‘Thinking of him always brings great sadness, but also great joy. We’ll miss him as long as we live, but wouldn’t live nearly as richly had we never have known him. Journey well Meatboi [sic].’
Fans were left in tears over Henry’s post, and flooded the comments below with messages of support.
‘Hcfan_s replied: ‘This made my cry. I’m so sorry for your loss Henry….I know how it feels like to lose a beloved family member. May he rest in Peace.’
‘What a beautiful tribute to Meat!! Dogs are truly gifts from God. They teach us so much about unconditional love,’ Summerwind16 agreed.
‘What a true gift Meat was to you and Natalie. So glad he had you both to show him such huge amounts of love and give him so many adventures!!’
M.mariealicerodrig wrote: ‘Meat was a beautiful little boy and had a big shared heart that now beats only on you and Natalie. Always leave you hearts open for that kind of love.’
As Riotousorthodoxy2 added: Goodness… this is the most emotional Henry I’ve seen so far. RIP Meat little warrior.’
Natalie announced Meat’s death on social media last April, posting a black-and-white snap as she cuddled the French bulldog on a plane.
‘Love you forever. Rest in peace, sweet boy,’ she simply captioned the upload.
Henry also owns American Atika Kal, and opened his doors to pup Baggins with Natalie last year.
The Man of Steel actor has previously opened up about his close bond with Kal, describing the gorgeous dog as his ‘best friend’.
Appearing on Lorraine last April, he enthused: ‘He really is my best friend, we go everywhere together.
‘He’s eight now and he has saved my emotional and psychological bacon plenty of times. We have an incredibly close bond.
‘He gets it. He senses it when I’ve got my own stuff on, he’ll be close – he’s almost always close, but he’ll be closer.’
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