BEX (Becky) PRITCHARD

Born 1/2/1992 ~ Died 1/12/2004

We brought Becky (Bex) home when she was nine weeks old. She was the easiest puppy we have ever known. It was truly love at first sight. For every day of Becky's life we gave thanks that she had come to live with us as we cuddled her and told her she was the GDIH - the greatest dog in history!

As a young dog she enjoyed being a member of an agility group - preferring to run underneath the jumps and heading straight for the climbing apparatus that she preferred. She would sit at the top of the A-frame and refuse to budge, laughing at my pathetic attempts to bring her down. She was an easy- going dog who was well travelled. She had over thirty weeks holiday in Scotland where she would climb mountains with far more ease than we did, swim in the sea, and dig in the sand. She travelled on buses, trains and even on a ski lift. She visited all the islands off the west coast of Scotland and trotted along the decks of ferries, enjoying long crossings without a care.

Bex was a pretty dog who courted attention from all she met. People would stop to talk to her all the time. She always greeted people, young and old with a wag and a lick. In all the years we lived with her we never heard her growl or worried about her snapping. She was brought up with four young boys who adored her and was truly not just a pet but most definitely one of the family. She would share herself out at bedtime sleeping on a different bed each night.

When she was ten she had a lump removed from underneath her chin. It looked such an innocuous little thing. The trauma of surgery triggered diabetes. It was diagnosed on the same day as we were told the lump had been a serious cancer and that although she seemed healthy she only had less than a month left with us. We were heartbroken but concentrated on treating her diabetes. After visiting an oncologist we were delighted to hear that the cancer had not spread and felt we had been given a second chance. However she was found to have an unusual heart condition and high blood pressure.

For the next two years she made many visits to the hospital for check-ups. All of this she did without complaint and the vets adored her, as she was so compliant and sweet.

Only a month before she died we took her away for a holiday where she swam and dug as happily as ever. Two weeks later she stopped eating. The cancer had returned with a vengeance. Up until the day she died she still enjoyed her walk each afternoon through the woods.

Bex went blind six months after developing diabetes. She coped with it amazingly. Her nose was all she needed. Also deaf, we developed a language of 'touch' - she still walked off her lead, following our scent. The blindness never held her up or seemed to bother her.

Bex died at home in her daddy's arms in our bedroom where she felt safe, surrounded by her loved ones and her favourite vet. She was very peaceful. It was late at night and she had gone to bed a little earlier and we had commented on how comfortable she looked. She woke and had a small seizure just to let us know it was her time. She wasn't frightened.

Becky had a wonderful life and was deeply and everlastingly loved by her family and all who met her. She completed her circle.

We miss her desperately and will never, ever forget her.

Gill & Steve Pritchard, Duncan, Joe, Alex & Jack

01/05