For years Oscar the dog obediently sat at his master's feet - come rain or shine - as he sold copies of the Big Issue on the streets of Oxford.

But, as the old saying goes, every dog has its day, and so Oscar's life was to be transformed from faithful companion to friend of the stars.

For it was Oscar's animal magnetism that helped turn round the life of his owner Dennis Gill as he went on to meet some of the most famous people in the world.

Oscar passed away on Sunday and Mr Gill said he wanted to pay tribute to the dog that changed his life.

Mr Gill said: "I came to Oxford in 1992 to sell copies of the Big Issue. My patch was on the corner of Broad Street and Turl Street.

"I had been living in London and found most people I was selling to were students, so I thought Oxford would be a good place to go."

Mr Gill often went back to London when it was quiet in Oxford and it was during one trip to the capital in 1997 he stumbled across Oscar.

He said: "I saw this little puppy tied up by rope.

"He was clearly very undernourished so I went and got a knife and set him free."

Bringing him back to Oxford, Mr Gill sought out help from the RSPCA in getting Oscar fixed up and the two of them went on to spend three years together.

He said: "People would always stop and stroke Oscar and then buy a copy of the Big Issue. He was great with people and loved the attention."

However, it was a chance encounter with actor Jack Nicholson in London in 2000 that changed their lives forever.

Mr Gill said: "I had gone up to London for the day as Oxford was quiet and was selling the Big Issue outside the Metropolitan Hotel in Mayfair.

"There were loads of photographers out the front and we wandered over to take a look and found out it was Jack Nicholson.

"The next thing I know, Oscar has gone running over to him and Nicholson stopped to stroke him. The next day there were pictures of them together in the national papers."

Mr Gill realised the potential and spoke to the News of the World about becoming a photographer and was delighted when they gave him camera equipment.

He said: "The stars loved Oscar and would always stop to stroke him and play with him and that was when I could get the pictures.

"It got to the point where some of them remembered his name and would give him treats."

According to Mr Gill, Matrix star Laurence Fishburne once stole Oscar's toy and ran into his hotel as a joke. He said: "Oscar ran in after him, bit him on the bum - which caused him to drop his toy - picked it up and ran back out."

Over the next 10 years, Oscar was photographed with a hundreds of A-listers, including George Clooney, Daniel Craig, Robbie Williams, Jordan, Gwyneth Paltrow and John Travolta.

Mr Gill said: "Everyone loved him and never objected to having a picture taken with him. Noel and Liam Gallagher absolutely loved him, so did George Clooney."