Today I looked on as Stein was put to sleep. He was 14. Deansie, our other dog who was 13, the dog in my avatar, was put to sleep four weeks ago today. Both gone in the space of four weeks.
Stein, who had a long and happy life, wasn’t in good health. As well as arthritis, the old soul had cancer and was bleeding from his back passage. His breathing was poor and, since Deansie’s death, he seemed out of sorts. He had, after all, lost his best friend when Deansie went.
He'd also lost his master, my dad, in 2010, and, truth is, Stein was never quite the same dog after my dad died. He still had Deansie, he still had us, but he didn't have my dad and it was from then that, slowly but surely, his health began to deteriorate.
Stein was a Labrador/Collie cross, very intelligent and easy to train. He was a placid big dog who enjoyed chasing after a ball in the back garden or going for long walks. When younger he would walk for miles.
I’d hoped he’d make it to Christmas but it wasn’t to be. This will be the first Christmas since 1999 when we haven’t had dogs in the house, so we’ve decided to go to my sister’s house on Christmas Day. Not having our boys sitting beside the dinner table, hoping to secure a piece of turkey for themselves, would feel strange. It would also be upsetting.
Not nice seeing a dog you love die in front of you, however it was for the best. He’s now in a better place.
Rest in peace, Stein. We loved you and we’ll miss you.
Stein (Oct 2000 - Nov 2014)
Deansie and Stein. Our boys. Both dead.
