On Sunday night just gone midnight, I gave Ben, my loyal and loving 13 years old dalmatian boy, a last cuddle and said my last goodbye. His lordship and I wept as we watched the vet administered the lethal dose, and how very quickly the drug took his life. No more pain, my dear boy, and rest in peace.

The house has become very quiet – No Ben’s excitement as he rushes for his food. No barking at the man with his “chinese” dog as they walk past the house. No huff-n-puff-n-a-great-big-sigh as he plonk himself down on his favourite chair only to sleep for the rest of the afternoon. No sitting by his biscuit tin and adoringly looking at you with his sad brown eyes saying “Please give me a biscuit. I’ve been such a good boy and I’m starving” …..

This has been the most difficult blog post I’ve ever written. Every word and every sentence brings so much memories and my tears start flowing again – Kinda difficult to see through tears-covered spectacles to be able to type!! I took these three photos as they remind me most of my loving dog.

His armchair – This is Ben’s favourite chair in our living room. Most mornings he’d be curled up on the sofa in my study/office keeping me company as I go about my business, but by the afternoons when the sun shines through our living room windows upon the armchair, Ben would be straight on it. Sleeping soundly and enjoying the warmth of the sun. Not only did he get a commanding view of the kitchen, but also a view out of the window into the street, where he gets to bark verociously at the man with the “chinese” dog.

His food bowl – Food was top priority for Ben. He loved his food!! He would hop and dance around us as we prepare his meals, barking with great delight and enthusiasm as if it was the only meal he’d ever had for months. As we carried his food bowl downstairs where he is fed, Ben would shoot down the stairs like a lightning and get there before you can even blink your eyes. Oh yes, he LOVED his food. Ben would eat anything – Definitely not a fussy eater!! Bananas, all sorts of fruits, last night chinese takeaways, chicken jelfrezi … not fussed!!! Just wanted lots of it!!! The word “biscuits” had to be spelt out in our household, for the mere mention of the word and Ben would be straight there, sitting beautifully in front of you, with his sad eyes looking pleadingly at you saying “Did you just say biscuits? Yessssss pleaaaasssseee”.

His collar – Ben. Yup. That’s what it says. That’s my boy Ben. We tend to take his collar off when he’s at home and picking up the collar signals it’s time for walkies. Ben loved his walks and never tires of them. He slowed down as he grew older and as his back condition worsen, but he loved his walks nonetheless. He’d wait with great anticipation for His lordship to arrive home every evening, because it signals the start of everything he loved – Biscuits. Walks. Dinner. Armchair.

It’s been two days now…. His bowl lies in the hallway. An empty armchair. A collar never to be worn again……… Rest peacefully my dear companion, my friend, my Ben. I love you and I miss you so much.

My dear friend (and amazing photographer) Randall over at Randall Murrow Photography has been a constant source of inspiration for me over the years. It has been an honour for me to have met and gotten to know Randall; working alongside him on several projects and assignments.

Oh… and the copious amounts of beer we seem to consume every time we meet at the pub. There is that too!!!