[Charlotte]

Hi all,

It has now been a year and 3 months ago, but still, when I see pictures of Chester, I keep having to remind me that he’s gone now, even when he still looks so lively in his pictures.
Chester was a Rottweiler Labrador cross, and a real sweetheart. Always he was following me around, and when I wasn’t at home, I’m told he was always waiting for me. He was my first dog to have and to train, and after the puppycourse I just kept on training him myself. Only 7 years later did we start Agility and Obedience, and kept doing that untill he was 13. He may not have been the fastest or most eager dog (compared to the border collies), but we always enjoyed working together. The last few years I had to give up Agility since it was getting to hard on him, but we kept up training obedience (just real low level stuff) until close to the end.

At almost 15 years old, Chester became diabetic, and we did not find out that that was what was bothering him untill it had already progressed quite far. We struggled to help him find back his energy so he could still stay with us for a while, but it could not be helped.

So well do I remember walking him those last months, slower and slower. He used to look up at me at those times, showing me that he wanted to, but simply could not go faster. It was okay, I was glad to adjust my pace to his now, after he had done the same for me all those many years. Even on that last day, when we went to the vet for a check-up (we did nót expect we’d be letting him go that day), he still followed me faithfully, even though he didn’t care for the vet at all.

It was so typical for him, to choose this moment. He was always such an easy and good dog, never troublesome, never asking for anything. He had never been a bother, and it seems like he was true to that to the last day. Like he felt that, while we were there at the vet’s office, that would be the easiest way and place for us to let him go.

While we were there, he suffered from a epilectic attack (first ever), and all the strength went out of him. Now he showed that he was in pain, he was done, did not want to go on. That’s when we decided to let him go, and the vet put him to sleep that same hour.

He died in my arms, my dear sweet lovely Chester, my soulmate for so so many years. How lucky were we, to have had him by our side for so many years. He was the best dog ever (aren’t they all?) and I still miss him. Luckily the pain of it has lessened by now, but he’ll always be with me, in my heart.