Yesterday the family lost our best friend.
When Keg, a Border Collie - German Shepherd cross, was 6 he was given to us by a lovely lady, Kim, who had a 2 year old and Keg with his ball fetish could't understand why it was unacceptable to bowl over the kid to get a ball held by the kid. So he had to go. Sarah and I went to see him and fell in love, ball fetish and all. he was big black and hairy with a white stripeon his chest, a lovely looking dog. He had beautiful manners and was a credit to Kim and her obedience training. For the last 7 years he's been our friend, protector , a source of joy and laughter and at times exhaustion, I mean how many times can a person throw a ball before your arm falls off or kick it till your leg falls off? Keg always had 1 more chase for it left in him.He never barked at nothing, only to protect. He loved to have the neighbours twins over and let them roll all over him and hug him and squeeze him too hard.
Last year we noticed he was getting tired before we were. I took him to the vet, a wonderful man, bearing in mind I don't like vets much you can imagine how good he is if I say he's wonderful, who I've known for 20 years, who looked at me and said we can try and help him with some meds for his arthritis, some dogs it works for, some it doesn't. He also had 3 tumors and was going blind.. Andrew ( the vet ) looked at me as only he can and said "It won't be long." I knew what he was saying.

We've been watching him for the last 8 months or so but just this week Rodg and I have been saying he's not in a good way and on Wednesday he, Keg, looked at me and I knew we were keeping him here for us not because it was best for him.
Last night we saw him off to the Rainbow Bridge. We held him and told him we loved him and both of us cried, the vet left us alone with him and said stay as long as you like and gave us a blanket to put over him, picture a big black hairy dog with a bright pink blanket on him. We went home, via the bottle shop of course,where we were greeted by the neighbours, also bawling their eyes out and Sarah who was very distant till I hugged her and she cried.

On the way out of the vets we saw this on the wall.

A PETS PRAYER
If it should be, that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done,
For this,the last battle,can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand,
Don't let your grief stay your hand,
For this day more than the rest,
Your love and friendship stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,
What is to come can hold no fears,
You'd not want me to suffer so,
When the time comes please let me go.

Take me where my needs they'll tend,
Only, Stay with me to the end,
And hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know, in time you will see,
It is a kindness you do to me,
Although my tail it's last has waved,
From pain and suffering I've been saved.

Don't grieve it should be you,
Who decideds this thing to do,
We've been so close, we two, these years
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Smile for we walked together, for a little while.

Appeared in Dobermann World 1987



And so Keg goes to the rainbow bridge to wait for us. Thanks for the partnership,friendship, protection and the joy


Get the ball Keg