Imelda May has paid tribute to her dog Alfie and revealed how her beloved late pet saved her daughter's life when she was a newborn.
The 45-year-old singer and poet, said the dog, who died on May 9 aged 13, alerted her when her daughter pulled a plastic bag over her face.
Alfie, who toured with May, kept whimpering until she ran to find her now seven-year-old child unable to breathe.
My heart is broken. My darling Alfie is gone. How I long to hold him as I did for 13 glorious years. My boy, my best friend, my joy, my companion, my love. Rest in Peace. I will love you forever Alfie. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/JLaWmFdUCq
— Imelda May (@ImeldaOfficial) May 10, 2020
Speaking to the PA news agency," May said: "He saved my daughter's life when she was a newborn.
"She had pulled a plastic bag on to her face and he would not stop - like Lassie - getting me, running back and forward, whimpering until I followed him and I saw the plastic bag over her face.
"I do owe him a hell of a lot."
The Johnny Got a Boom Boom singer had the dog cremated and plans to keep hold of his ashes in case she moves house.
"I can't cope with letting him go totally, so I have decided to just keep them," she said.
My Alfie is home. Thanks for all your kindness. Means a lot. #doglove #healing pic.twitter.com/HQCPzY13U2
— Imelda May (@ImeldaOfficial) May 19, 2020
She added: "I had him since before I did well in the business. I was gigging and gigging and gigging and working in the nursing home. I had him for all of that.
"He came on tour. He had his own bunk on the tour bus.
"He had his own laminates for Glastonbury, even though they say you can't bring dogs.
"We had to OK it all before hand.
"He went to Glastonbury, T In The Park, he was in BBC studios, he was at my feet for recording most of my albums. He was certainly at my feet for writing all of them.
"He was in Abbey Road, he was the only dog they would allow into the Royal Albert Hall," she added.
May recently released an album of her poetry, titled Slip Of The Tongue, which tackles themes including domestic abuse and family.
