Sasha Smajic, 37, said she spent £4,249 in total on her dog’s funeral, including £225 on a dove release and another £620 on getting his name written in flowers. The dog was named God.
Sasha said: ‘I don’t think I’ll ever celebrate another Christmas. I don’t think I would ever have the strength to do that – a piece of me has gone.
Captain’s body was taken from the vets in a horse-drawn carriage to a park where he used to go for walks. His coffin was then transferred to a hearse for the 40-minute drive to Willow Haven Cemetery in Bedmond, Hertfordshire.
Cemetery owner Maureen Beach read a poem at Captain’s graveside with 11 doves – one for each year of his life – being released at 2pm during the service after he was lowered into the ground.
Afterwards, Sasha went to the pub where she put a plate of chicken and chips on the table ‘as that is what he would have had’