Tim Perkins's Blog

Good Night Bentley Bogtrotter. xxx

A Last Good Bye for Now...

It is withheavy heart today that I post regarding the hardest decision I have ever had tomake in my life and something I have always dreaded having to make.

This afternoon, Bentley Bogtrotter and I said our last goodbyes and sittinghere in the studio, just now, seems so very, very quiet.

It is the end of an era…

9th July 2008 - 18th October 2024

As some of you will know he had two successful operations earlier this year,but the last few weeks there have been problems with a wheezy cough, which hejust couldn’t seem to shift despite being on some meds.

He had had a few falls because of this, as he tried to catch his breath, butseemed fine.

Last night as I was preparing his meds and his brekker, on the landing, for thismorning and Saturday. I heard a dull thud, followed by a second in quicksuccession from the studio, so dashed in to find him fitting and it was aprotracted one, not shaking, but with his little body stiff and his head out tothe side.

I called for Margaret who was already in bed and she agreed this was somethingdifferent.

I comforted the poor little fellow, but looking into his eyes, I could see somethingwasn’t right.

It took him some time to walk after this, but eventually he stood up and hadsome fresh water from his ball.

He then got up and had a wee and poo on some mats, I had been using for awhile, as he mostly stayed in the studio with me all the time.

I lay with him all night to comfort him and keep my eye on him. I know hereally appreciated that as he kept looking to check if I was still there, if Istopped cuddling him.
By sunrise he was a little unsteady, but was better than he had been theevening before and during the night.

I rang Bentley’s vet, Chris Mason and asked for an emergency appointment, whichwe got. I explained over the phone what had happened, so they were aware ofwhat had gone on. Chris has been treating him all year and I cannot thank himenough for his care and empathy all throughout.
He knew when we arrived I had already made a decision and the right one, hard asit was. If there is a way to do this with dignity and pain free for an animalthis was that time, we could not have asked for more.

He slipped away in my arms, quietly as though he was just going to sleep, as Icuddled him.

Margaret and me have taken him to the beautiful little Pet Cemetery in Leyland about20 minutes away from the Keep, where we said our last goodbyes in the littlechapel of rest there. He will be back with me on Monday and I have reserved aplace here in the studio where he made so many happy times for us both, which Ithink is only fitting.

I took a little lock of hair from his tail and it now sits with his photo herein the Keep studio.

It really is the end of an era. He arrived way back on Saturday July 9th 2008and from the second he was placed on my knee, by my daughter, Joanne making me initiallythink it was her little Yorkie, Lucy Pie, we became friends for life. He was apresent from Margaret, who was upset she had missed that year’s wedding anniversary,seven days earlier. He was the “Bestest” present anyone ever bought me and Ihave been lucky getting lots of nice ones, but he was THE very BEST one ever.

This tribute to my bestest little furry mate is hard to write, and I try to doso with wet eyes, I guess the studio needs another dusting again, perhaps.

I miss the little fellow already and we have not been back at the Keep for longto be honest. I am in pieces at the moment and I don’t mind admitting it hasbeen a long, long time since I have cried as much. I am lucky, we shared somuch time together that I have a wealth of wonderful memories with him.

I have always jokingly spoken about him, saying he is the studio manager, hereat Wizards Keep, bit in truth he really was. He was always there through, happy,sad, worrying times. For six months he sat on my lap at the drawing board, as Istared every day at Page 35 of Worlds End Volume too., following the passing ofmy Mum in 2014.

His little pitter patter of his paws told me it was time to take a break andlet him out, or perhaps we should have a snack. He rarely barked unlesssomething was amiss outside or I hadn’t heard the postman or someone coming tovisit or perhaps he allowed the other dogs chance to have some fun and let meknow.

He was the bestest, most perfect little companion anyone could have and he fansall over the world. In fact, when I first set up the Twitter (now X) accounts Ialso set one up for Bentley and his posts got more hits then mine.

He also took over my blog for a few of his on a couple of occasions and I willget around to posting more of those posthumously someday, hopefully not to longin the future.

I have so much more I could share with you today, but has he has a lot of fanson here too, I thought I would update you all as early as possible.

He always loved going out in the car, in his custom car belt with me, but thistime I sat in the back cuddling him and Margaret drove us both there, so he gota chance to sit in the back of a car today too.

Godspeed, Bentley Bogtrotter, and now you can cross the Rainbow Bridge to meetyour many friends that have gone before you, I am sure they will show youaround and have some more fun with you again – please say hi to them from me.

Below are four Photos of Bentley, his very first taken downstairs in the lounge and the very first one in the studio, just afterwards on his first day here with me and the last two photos that I took this morning of Bentley looking just like he did on his first time in the studio where he was standing near one of the PCs and the very last one in his basket, before making our last trip out with Margaret and me.

AllI would like to say now, is Good Night, for now, Bentley Bogtrotter, you alwaysmade me so happy and it was my pleasure to be lucky enough to be your Bestestfriend too.

I will always miss you, mate.

All my Love Always and Forever.
Dad…
xxxxxxxxxx

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