This is a tribute to our little mongrel 'Red' pts yesterday evening, after a month long fight with prostate cancer.
We had him for 2 years and 5 days. Our vet estimated his age at between 12-14 yrs when we got him, nearer the 14! So he was ancient even then. He captured my heart when I first saw him in the rescue kennel, he was, allegedly, a stray. All grey and bedraggled and very bewildered. Next day he was home with my other mongrel and my (now gone) GSD.
When we went back to adopt him we found out he was completely deaf, and had cataracts in both eyes, was arthritic and covered in various (quite large) lumps and bumps. He never looked back, he never put a foot wrong all the time we had him. He was a joy and a privilege, and everyone always stopped to fuss the old fella. I never thought he would be off lead being deaf, but we graduated to that after about a month, and he always stayed with us. Even at his great age then, when we first had him he used to gallop round and round us when we went to the park, like indians circling a wagon train. Then home for breakfast and sleep til dinner time. He was undemanding and unassuming. He was a sweetie. His eyesight had been getting much worse of late, but we still managed our daily walk. Then a few weeks ago he had bladder problems, which we discovered was actually much more sinister than that. We tried antibiotics and that worked for a very short time. Over the weekend he was really poorly, tucked up and restless. He wouldn't eat or drink anything at all. We saw the emergency vet over the weekend, who gave him steriods, pain killers anti inflammatories and muscle relaxants. He was able to sleep at last on Saturday, but on Sunday was back to being poorly, so we decided to let him go to a better place, where I hope he can hear everything, and has sparkling crystal clear vision and no arthritis!

Goodbye our little mystery man, you were wonderful - China will miss you, and so will Glen Elsa and I. I just wish I could have known you when you were younger! God Bless
XXXXX

So sorry to hear about your old fella
It sounds as if he had a wonderful time in his twilight years.

liberty

What a special person you must be to take the little man into your home and life, sending best wishes at least he knew happiness with you in his twilight years.Old dogs are so special.

My Trusted friend of lonely years,thy little life is O'er
And thou art laid in mother earth amidts the city's roar
I watched the weak and weaker grow
and dim and glaze thine eye
But though thy only wert a dog,I wept to see thee die
Another dog they brought to me
Of birth and image true,But in my grief I failed to see
The virtues found in you.
"Companion of my lonely life and healer of my woes,
the only grief that thou didst cause was when thy life didst close."

(ian dunbar)

Be proud you made his last years worthwhile. The oldies are so special.

Here's to your 'Red" he sounds a special boy...
I hope your sadness gets easier.. he'll be waiting at the bridge for you

Much love
Donna and charliex

look on the bright side he had a long life and some lovely last years with you on top of that you did every thing you could to give him the best life he could have had and if it wasnt you that rescued him from the animal rescue who would of most ppl look for puppies what kind of home would he have had if any you did the best thing that could be done i promise
RIP Red

Katrina, Red was a lucky dog to have found you to make his last years so special. The only downside to owning dogs is that we know that their time with us is limited. But the pain of grief is a small price to pay for the love and joy that they bring to our lives.

Rest well Red, and be proud of yourself Katrina

Lesley

Katrina

I am sitting here in tears reading your very sad and moving post.

The oldies can give so much love and happiness to a family.Even though they may be with us for a short time, they can leave ever lasting happy memories on our lives.

Take Care

Lucy
xx

God blessxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bless him x Our thoughts are with you.

Sweep x

He sounded like such a special and wonderful old boy.
You and he both rewarded each other with much love and happiness.
Love and hugs to you
Steph xx

So sorry to hear this news Kat. Blue will have company at the bridge now!

Run free Red.

God bless

Becky.

xxxx

Thanks everybody for your kind wishes, you all know what it's like. He's even more special now with all your thoughts with him. Thank you for the Ian Dunbar poem, it's lovely.

Thanks Becky for your message. Two in less than a year, there's no joy in that. Still, I always knew with Red that we wouldn't have him long. To be honest I thought 6 months would be an achievement, but he went for Gold! Bless

God bless and sleep tight Red.
What a lucky old chap he was to have found you for his twilight years.
Thinking of you.
Liz x

Hi Katrina,

So very sorry.

Reading your post, I could hardly see through the tears.

Red sounded like a beautiful dog. And what a fantastic couple of years he's had with you.

I wish I could find the words to tell you how very sorry I am.

Take care of yourself, you and Red are in my thoughts.

Lisa xxxx