Orlando Bloom's 'heartbreaking' new chest tattoo

Hollywood actor Orlando Bloom has shared the grief behind his new inking, revealing it is dedicated to his dog who went missing and never came home. Photo / Supplied

Orlando Bloom has paid tribute to his beloved doggo with a touching tattoo after a week-long search for the missing dog – before the star discovered the pup had died.

The Hollywood actor shared his heartache at realising Mighty, who had been missing for a week, was not coming home in an emotional Instagram post.

Paying tribute to the labradoodle, Bloom has had an inking of the dog's name on his chest – describing the act as a way to "respect our bond".

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Mighty’s on the other side now. After 7 days of searching from sunrise to sunset and into the wee hours, today, the 7th day ~the number of completion~ we found his collar... I have wept more this week than I thought possible, which has been very cathartic and healing... I left no stone unturned, crawled thru all the man holes, under the roads, searched every back yard and creek bed. Had two separate sniffer dogs do their best as well. I feel so grateful to have learned from my little Mighty man that love is eternal and the true meaning of devotion. I feel sure he was looking down on me whistling in every back yard and knowing that I was doing all I possibly could to respect our bond. He was more than a companion. It was a soul connection for sure. I’m sorry. I love you. Thank you. RIP my MIGHTY HEART my little fellow A ♠️’s ❤️Thank you to the community for allowing me to search through their yards for him and supporting my midnight walks. It was reassuring to see the best of people even in the worst of times. To the angels of @dogdayssar I’m forever in your debt. You ladies are heaven sent. Lastly thank you to @scottcampbell for the ink. I love you brother❤️l

A post shared by Orlando Bloom (@orlandobloom) on Jul 21, 2020 at 11:19pm PDT

"Mighty's on the other side now," the 47-year-old wrote.

"After seven days of searching from sunrise to sunset and into the wee hours, today, the 7th day we found his collar.

"I have wept more this week than I thought possible, which has been very cathartic and healing."

Bloom, who is expecting a baby with pregnant fiancee Katy Perry, went on to say he "left no stone unturned" in the hunt for his missing dog, before finally realising his tragic end.

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I don’t recall a time in my life where I’ve been so broken wide open. The rawness I have felt over these past few days and sleepless nights at the idea of my little man being lost and scared, with me unable to do anything to protect him, is a waking nightmare. ⁣ ⁣ I feel powerless... maybe like so many others who are losing loved ones or unable to see our loved ones because of the times.⁣ ⁣ Cherish the moments we share with the ones we love because nothing is promised. Trust it and don’t be afraid of love or the fear of losing love. Love is eternal. The bond between Mighty and I shows devotion in ways I have not truly understood until now. I am a devoted father & partner, still, there is a reason why they call them ‘man’s best friend’. I miss him. Send out a prayer for my little strong and Mighty boy to find his way back to his family. 🙏❤️⁣

A post shared by Orlando Bloom (@orlandobloom) on Jul 19, 2020 at 9:12am PDT

"I crawled thru all the manholes, under the roads, searched every backyard and creek bed," he said, adding they even had "two separate sniffer dogs" on the job as well.

After finding the collar that proved Mighty had died, Bloom described feeling "grateful" for his four-legged friend.

"I feel so grateful to have learned from my little Mighty man that love is eternal and the true meaning of devotion," he said in the tear-jerker post.

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This one’s for MIGHTY 🙏

A post shared by Orlando Bloom (@orlandobloom) on Jul 17, 2020 at 1:59pm PDT

He explained that Mighty was "more than a companion", calling him a "soul connection" and shared a series of photographs of them together as well as his new tattoo.

The inking, which is on Bloom's left pec, reads: "MIGHTY."

It also features an elaborate love heart symbol underneath.

Bloom signed off the post by thanking neighbours for allowing him to "search through their yards" and for "supporting my midnight walks" in the hunt for his dog.

His raw grief has touched the Lord Of The Rings actor's 4.1 million followers, who have flooded his post with condolences.

Actress Jennifer Aniston – who reportedly had joined in the search for Mighty – said she couldn't stop crying.

"The tears won't stop," she wrote. "I'm so so so deeply sorry my friend. I love you."

Another friend wrote: "Gutted and heartbroken. I'm so so sorry. What a sweet baby he was. I hate it. Sending so much love. I cannot imagine the pain."

While Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown said: "I'm so sorry! I understand that feeling and it's honestly the worst. I'm sending my love to you and your family right now."

Previously, Bloom had described Mighty going missing as "a waking nightmare" and pleaded for people to be on the lookout for his "little man".

The dog went missing on July 15 in Montecito, California.