Two of my friends have lost their dogs very close together and I wanted to acknowledge Chappers and Jacks passing.
Chappers was a flat coated retriever belonging to a friend of mine who shows the breed in Crufts. He had, she explained to me on one occasion, the canine equivalent of Downs Syndrome. He'd never be a show dog but she utterly adored him. Chappers wasn't very old, but didn't survive an operation due to complications as far as I can tell. He was a lovely boy and I hope his journey was a gentle one.
Jack was an old boy taken on by another friend from the Dogs Trust. She saw him and knew he was meant to live with her. His old carer had passed away and done quite a bit of damage by essentially showing him she loved him with too much fatty food and treats. Jack needed to have one of his front legs removed and my friend took him on and nursed him through the aftercare of the op, taking time off work to do so. Sadly, they only had a few months together before a mass was found that was inoperable. He was a joy to be around and I hope he found his old human quickly.
Rest Easy, Chappers and Jack. You were both massively loved.
