Demi Lovato grateful for support during 'the most painful week of my life'

Singer/actress Demi Lovato has thanked fans for their support as she struggles through "the most painful week" of her life after her beloved dog was reportedly attacked and killed by a coyote.

The Heart Attack hitmaker shared her loss with devotees on Twitter.com on Tuesday (28Jul15), when she revealed her pet pooch, Buddy, had been "taken from us way too soon in a tragic accident".

Reports subsequently emerged suggesting the dog was killed by a coyote in the backyard of Lovato's Los Angeles home, and she was so disturbed by the incident, she scrapped a TV appearance on Thursday (30Jul15) to continue mourning her loss.

However, she returned to social media on Friday (31Jul15) to express her gratitude to fans for their kind words.

Alongside a photo collage of her pup on Instagram.com, she writes, "We can't thank you all enough. This has been the most painful week of my life but because Wilmer and I had so much love and support, I've been able to stay strong and will continue to get through this difficult time. The out pour of love and support has been unbelievable and it means the world to us. Love you all tons and ton..."

Buddy had been an early Christmas gift for Lovato from her actor boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama last year (14).