A sad week.

This week we lost my beautiful dog. She was called Crusty - it's a long story!
I never wanted a dog in the first place - I was persuaded into it almost 15 years ago. She bit the chap I was with at the time and he decided that he'd have her. Then decided he couldn't be bothered and she ended up with me.
She was from Leigh Park Traveller Site - a dodgy area in a dodgy area!
Her mum was a collieXrottweiler and her dad was an alsatianXgreat dane.
She looked like both.
She was so sweet and good natured and fit and healthy until about 3 weeks ago.
Even when she wasn't well she was a friendly dog.
She started very quickly to get arthritic and we took her to the vet who gave her pain killers and us a stark warning that they may cobble her kidneys.
Sadly that happened very quickly and on Tuesday she went to the vet who was of the opinion that she wasn't going to get better and that for her sake we should let her go.
My darling husband took her there. He cuddled her and smoothed her and tells me she was completely calm.
He says the vet was kind and gentle and so compassionate. He stayed with her till she was asleep and gone.
He came home alone.

I am sat here and as I am writing this I have tears in my eyes. Last night I thought I saw her sat on the sofa, and when I go up to bed I expect to fall over her on the landing like every night.

Sad times.