It was at his side in life ... and refused to be parted from him in death.

As the US mourned at the funeral of Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson, 35, who was one of 38 killed when his helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan early this month, it was a photo of his pet dog Hawkeye lying by his former master's coffin throughout the ceremony that has captured hearts around the world.

The photograph, which was taken by Petty Officer Tumilson's cousin Lisa and posted on Facebook, has made its way around the globe since the funeral last week.

"I took this picture and that was my view throughout the entire funeral. I couldn't NOT take a picture," Ms Tumilson told US television network ABC News.