Five years ago yesterday, we found that a very young Lancashire Heeler pup had been abandoned at the end of our drive. We live in Spain and know that the Spanish lavish no attention on their animals, but as a bowl of water had been left with the dog we assumed that he had come from an English family over here.

It was Friday afternoon and we decided to take him in and deliver him to the local dog's home first thing on Monday morning, but over the week-end he adopted us and we decided to keep him. We found out what "make and model" he was and we christened him Jack.

For the last five years Jack has been an inspiration to us, a true friend and companion with a mind of his own and a great character.
Four weeks ago Jack went off his food and had a slight seizure which worried us greatly, so we took him to the vet. The vet took blood samples and kept him in overnight on a drip, and told us to call the next day when the blood test results would be back. The vet phoned us the next day and asked us to come down as he wanted to discuss the test results.
We were told that Jack had stopped eating altogether, and had started to drink lots and lots of water. The vet said this were the usual symptoms for diabetes, the test results confirmed this. Jack was also severely dehydrated so was kept on the drip through which glucose and medicines could be administered.

We visited Jack at the vet's every night and, following the vet's advice tried to persuade him to eat, we took his favourite food - chicken and rice - but to no avail. Every time we visited him, Jack's eyes would ask us what he had done wrong. and to please take him home. It was heartbreaking to leave him there, but it was for the best.

Five days later the vet phoned to say Jack had died.
Apparently Jack had a thyroid problem which caused him to be overweight, the excessive weight caused the diabetes, and as he was in a weakened state through the dehydration, he could not eat.

Jack is now with us in our back garden, in his favourite spot where he can watch over us.
Jack was a wonderful dog and we miss him terribly.
We can only be grateful to Jack for allowing us to share his short life. We will never forget him.
I hope these few lines can be of some comfort to anyone else who have recently lost a dear friend.
Many thanks for your time.
David Davies.

I have reproduced David and Lin's heartfelt message here in its entirety. As David rightly points out, it may be that these lines will help and / or offer comfort to those in similar situations. What good fortune Jack had in finding this wonderful home.

This is a picture of our Susie, aged 6, she died this week (August 2011) and we are all devastated. To us she was a person, she gave so much to the family and was loving and devoted, full of energy and always very very caring of us all. I can't believe she is gone, we absolutely adored her. She particularly loved her own portion of a roast chicken dinner on a Sunday with gravy and vegetables. She also loved a pig's ear. Her real name was Garden Isle Crystal Gail. She's buried in her bed with her toys in the garden. May she rest in peace, she will always be remembered with much love and is totally irreplacable. The best pal a family could ever have. Love you always Susie.
Sarah Olney

"Eccles of Midway" Eccles died on 18th July 2011 at 13 years 10 months.
She was born and lived all her live here in Sussex and she is buried on our memorial garden in the Orchard here. R.I.P.
Lucia Dunlop

Ben, aged 17 years ,
1994-2011, RIP
David Hall

This is 'Sticky pie'.
She was born with a heart murmur and we gave her the very best life even though it was short.

It broke our hearts to lose her, but she is the reason we have Fletcher, Willie and Penny. She is also the reason we fully committed ourselves to the breed.
She is still loved and missed very much. She was a perfect little sweetheart and had a fabulous character.

Carried always in our hearts. Caz and Kim

This is a picture of my gorgeous little Dog Max Mort.
9/01/2005 to 27/2/2011

We miss him so much.
We love you Max.xxxxxx

Zack, sonof Pebbles (also pictured here) and owned by Jess Flanagan.

Abbi, daughter of Pebbles (also pictured here) and owned by Patricia and Chris Wray.

Poppy, daughter of Pebbles (also pictured here) and owned by Monica Hutchings.

Pebbles, mother of Zack, Abbi and Poppy (also pictured here). Owned by Monica Hutchings.

14 years in our home, a lifetime in our hearts.

We miss you. xxxx

Gail Mardlin

Barney, a special boy who shared 17 years and 4 months of our lives. You will live on in our hearts. You are now with your lifetime pal, Foggy. We miss you both xxxx

Gail Mardlin

13-08-94 - 17-05-10.

"Miss you so much"
Sue Brackenbury

This is a picture of my beloved Molly. Sadly she lost her fight with life on 26 April 2010, at the young age of 18 years and 4 months. She was my life and I loved her and miss her dearly. She will be in my heart forever - she was my baby.
Michelle Holden

This is my Benji Boggle, he passed away in January 2009, at the young age of 10 years. He'll always be my little boy and is very very missed.

Claire Parkinson

I would like my lovely companion, Ellie, to be remembered. She was thirteen and a half years old when she died in November 2009. She was my best friend for 13 years and I miss her very much. She was a real character and was my little boss - but I was happy to do her bidding. She will be forever in my thoughts. Pat Ansell

This is Basil. He was the most loyal dog ever.
Always there, never far away. I had him for 14 years.
Gone but will NEVER ever be forgotten.

Nicky Farnfield
West Sussex

Sadly after a short illness we lost our Pennijar Talk of the North 4th April 1996 to 24th Sept 2009 aged 13.
He was a Super little Man, Youngest J.W winner under the old system. He is sadly missed and he leaves a hole that will never be filled in our hearts.
Emma his sister and Meggie his only surviving daughter miss him terribly as do we.

Joan and Mark Smith
(Pennijar Lancashire Heelers)

Nine years ago I telephoned Enid Lord as we wanted to rescue a little heeler. After a long discussion, Enid told me that she had the perfect dog for us and she was right. Jody was an incredible little dog.
Like most rescued dogs we experienced a few teething problems but she was a quick learner and soon adjusted to our lifestyle.
Jody came everywhere with us, (even on our honeymoon)! She travelled Europe with us and enjoyed many a camping trip across the country.
Three years ago we adopted our little boy. This was a major worry for us as we did not know how Jody was going to respond to a toddler suddenly appearing in her home. Of course, she took it all in her stride and would happily trot alongside his buggie as though she had been doing it forever. Jody would lie by his bed each night until he fell asleep and check on him each morning when she woke.
Jody passed away on the 2nd October 2009 after a short battle with cancer. We are missing her terribly and her passing has left an empty space in our lives that can never be filled. So we write this as a tribute to this wonderful breed and say Thank You Enid for recognising something in us that was suited to the wonderful little soul that we called "Jody".

Sharon Higginson

This is our Ruby who we very sadly had to say goodbye to in May 2011 after 16 years of love, licks and loyalty. We could never prove her as a Lancashire Heeler but she certainly had all the characteristics - and the smile. She loved her walks and in her younger days achieved distances of up to 22 miles and if there was a chance of a swim along the route so much the better. As a vet receptionist I was fortunate in that Ruby could accompany me every day and she was well known and much loved as the meeter and greeter. We miss her very much and would recommend this breed to anyone who is looking for something more than a dog...as Ruby would have told you, she was in fact a little person :)
Barbara Wilson

Tommie Galantino now in Heeler Heaven. I miss you little bubby and you can be proud of your little cousin Sam he is doing great and loves the horses just like you remember eh Tommie! x
Kima Holland

Lancashire Heeler Judy
JUDY 1993-2008
She was a lovely and loyal companion for 15 years. She was a dog who was “only small on the outside” She was a dog who was truly “ad finem fidelis” faithful to the end

David Dine
Hastings

Lancashire Heeler Jake
Click on the picture to read more about this dearly missed Lancashire Heeler

Lancashire Heeler Muffin
Click on the picture to read more about this dearly missed Lancashire Heeler

Pip was with us for 17 years. Such a character.

Pete Jones

Lancashire Heeler Percy
Click on the picture to read more about this dearly missed Lancashire Heeler