We picked Ben up from kennels at Braco when he was 13 months old. He was a bit of a wild thing and had led a very sheltered life. He had golf ball sized matted hair balls behind each ear, was under weight and very dirty. After we brought him home he and Heidi, our older GSD got on famously, but there was only one boss. Guess who? Yes, the female. Ben could have eaten all day long and one day he helped himself to half a haggis from the kitchen worktop. He had a lot to learn but he eventually became a lovely well mannered boy with some help from his Auntie Linda.

We would go for long walks along the river and through the woods near where we stay, but his favourite place was on the beach near our holiday home on the west coast, where he would chase sticks and sea gulls for hours on end.

Sadly after 6 years of being loved and giving love, great pleasure and endless amusement, we had to make the heartbreaking decision to put him to sleep as he had an aggressive tumour near his heart. It was with great sadness and lots of tears that we had to send him over the 'Rainbow Bridge' to join Heidi. We will miss our beautiful boy terribly but be comforted in the knowledge that he is in no pain and be forever grateful that he touched our lives and our hearts.

Norrie and Rhona Davies