Sorry to deviate a bit from the usual theme of this site…
But this month, very sadly, we had to say goodbye to Neville, Judy’s 15 year-old English Toy Terrier. For various reasons, Neville spent the last few years keeping our mate, Frank Clarke, company (Frank the Sprinter, Classic Bike Aug 2013) but when shortly before Christmas he started showing symptoms of kidney failure we took him back to try to give him the extra care he needed. He’s done very well and was in attendance for the purchase of the ‘Blackburne sawbench’ at Shepton Mallet a couple of weeks back – you’ll see the pic in the April Classic Bike. But over the past couple of days he took a bit of a dive and we had to let him go. Frank made the journey up so we could see him off together and we had the vet call at the house, rather than risk causing Neville any distress being taken to the surgery; they know you know… The whole thing went about as well as such things ever can and I was particularly grateful for the sunshine as I carried him for a last sniff around the woods. He seemed to enjoy it, looking round with interest , although the vet confirmed our decision, saying he would almost certainly have been in a coma by this evening, a fate he certainly didn’t deserve.
Nev’s been a smashing little pal to everybody who has known him throughout over his many dog-years. Brave and fiercely loyal (despite being no bigger than a cat he once saved a female friend from an alsatian attack, grabbing and hanging on to the bigger dog’s throat) and handsome enough that people often stopped us to enquire about his breed. The typically large, pointed ears have seen him cast as anything from an Imp to ‘Bat-Dog’ in his time but even so the Toy Terrier (like the Irish Terrier) is on the endangered list. Well sadly there’s one less now, Finbar’s lost his buddy and we’re all going to miss him very much.
Like FInbar, Neville had a lot of friends in the old bike scene, especially in the world of sprinting, going back to when Judy was competing a Vintage DT Douglas. He could always be relied upon to clear up any extra sandwiches. He was without doubt a very special little guy.
Cheers Rick
A moving tribute to little Neville,
I feel that I’ve known him a long time, glad I had the chance to meet him after the final farewell to my 400 four.
so sorry for your loss Judy and Rick.
Thanks, John. Yes, pets are a great addition to our lives but you sure have to pay for it when the time comes to make that call!
All the best R
He looks a ripper little dog. Vale Neville, and condolences. We lost our 13 y.o Tenterfield terrier nearly two years ago to diabetes. These smaller fellas just seem to have bags of personality.
Thanks Anbrew, and sorry to hear about your little fella too, looked up the Tenterfield – not familiar this side of te pond. They look like feisty little scrappers! Yup, for me it’s flat tanks and terriers all the way!
cheers Rick
They love nothing more than a scrap with a bigger dog. A fight with a corgi a few years back almost did him in, but Ned managed to break off one of the corgi’s teeth with his thigh. Ingenious that. That formed a “sterile foreign object” lump/cyst about a year later, and culminated in one of his finest hours: The “day-Ned-had-a-cyst-explode-over-his-face day”, AKA “Andrew vomits À gogo”.
They seem very similar looking dogs in a roundabout way. Anyway, all the best to you all. The amount of grief we feel for these little blokes is hard to explain, but surely it’s the greatest mark of their contribution to us? After all, how we’re missed is often the greatest test of our impact on those around us.
Cheers,
Andrew
A lovely tribute to a cracker wee dog Rick. Sorry for the loss – it sounds like you all had a great many years of joy together. There’s almost nothing as pleasant as returning the unconditional love of a pet.
Judy, Rick, I remember you talking about Neville and although I never met him, he looks adorable. I am sorry to hear what has happened and I hope you have pictures to keep his memory alive in the house.
Take care
Elaine
Thanks ELaine, yes plenty pics – and also my chewed through computer lead that he decided was in his way. While Finbar tends to sit and await rescue when hooked up on something, Neville was more proactive in dealing with things himself, luckily the computer wasn’t plugged in or he might have met his fate sooner still!
Cheers R
Very moving Rick ,just backs up what a great bloke you are,all the best from one motorcycle and dog lover to another ,cheers R palmer
Aw shucks! Thanks Rick, mind you cat-lovers and car drivers think I’m a XXXX!
Cheers R
Know what you are going thro, lost my best friend josh the collie after 14 1/2 years, shed full of vintage bikes, give them all up for a few more years with my mate
Dave
Thanks, Dave and all the best to you too. Yes, we may be able to mend our bikes and make them good as new again, but it’s not so easy with our loved ones.
Cheers Rick