Today Gill left us.

He had yet further issues and this last bout of gastro was just one too many. He went to his bed and he stayed there after his two visits to the vet earlier in the week for yet more testing. We had hope yesterday when he was the typical Gill and snapped at his temporary carer for disturbing his sleep and when he found his chicken breast meal unacceptable, but then he went downhill quickly.

Gill had come to us in terrible condition with huge lumps and weeping abscesses on his anus after spending his life in a kennel, neglected in a back garden. These were only part of his health problems. We kept dealing with different issues and thinking we could adopt him out and then having to renege as he went to emergency or the vet yet again. Gil went to hydro on a regular basis to try to strengthen a weak back leg, a problem coming from his spine. These legs too finally gave up on him.

His carer Trisha R spoilt him and he made up for his many attempts to bite her by showing clearly that he also loved her and would tuck his little head under her arm. But that was on his terms only when he felt like it. It always amazes us how strong minded these little guys are and how they manage to make you fit in with them. Gill was not quite 12 but he had a much older body from the time he came to us.

He could be an absolute angel when he wanted to or a little terror and there were so many discussions about him and the way forward for him and we are so grateful not only to Trisha R, who loved and cared for him, but to everyone in the VicDRG team who babysat him, walked him, and supported him, and to our vets at North Road Veterinary Centre and to Dogs In Motion Canine Rehabilitation.

Goodbye Gill Harbottle, you were a fighter to the end, you loved your walks, you loved the attention, you loved being inside whenever you wanted to be; but your body failed you before your spirit. Goodbye Gill Harbottle.