What can I say about Oscar? He was the most loyal, loving and comical dog you can ever imagine. He talked incessantly and he woke you every morning rolling on his back and singing.

Oscar was born with a strange affliction, that he could not make cartlidge, it meant that he walked a little bit like John Wayne and the vet gave him approximately 4 years to live, but they didn't know just how big this boys heart was.

Everything Oscar did, he gave 150%, he did not know the meaning of the word moderate and I can honestly say he lived every day like it was his last.

Oscar was the life long companion to Felix and the 2 of them were inseparable. We picked them up when they were just 8 weeks old, SO alike but so very different. They played together, always Oscar in the lead, they cuddled together and in almost 11 years, never had a cross word for each other.

All Oscar wanted to do was to play. He would bring you a ball, a rock, even the smallest twig, anything, just as long as you threw it for him. He had the patience of job. He would sit and stare at whatever he brought you literally for hours. He would nudge it over to you, tell you it was there, but he would continue to stare at whatever treasure he brought you, until you went to pick it up, Then the game really began, because he would try and get there before you, he never ever tired of this game. After play was over, or after his walk, the hose was then a particular favourite. The 2 of them would try biting the water, always Oscar first then Felix.

In 2009 Oscar collapsed with septicaemia, apparently one of his elbow joints had chipped and caused it. The vet told us to prepare for the worst, he wasn't a young dog anymore and he really had been through the mill and maybe it was his time. Our vet Bill from the Lamond practice in Livingston, stayed with Oscar all day despite having just completed the evening shift. He was determined that he would do just everything for him. This was Friday and they weren't convinced he would make it through the weekend. They let us in to see him on Sunday and sure enough, he was very weak, on a drip and couldn't actually get up. The vet said it was the first noise he had made since he went in and his tail wagged when he saw us. We fed him some boiled chicken which again was a good sign; he was finally starting to respond to the antibiotics. My husband went back Monday morning to take him more chicken and he had just about managed to stand up and go to the bathroom himself. He told the vet I would comeback in the early evening and take him more chicken, the vet agreed that he was definitely responding now and our visits would help him. I called in the afternoon to see what time I could visit, Diane the nurse said actually can you please come and get him, he hasn't shut up all day and he's driving us all crazy. Oscar didn't bark, he basically tried his hardest to talk and he was loud. We collected him and he was so happy to come home. It was still a struggle for him, but he really loved his home and he made a good steady recovery. He never fully recovered his ability to walk well again but he was still the happiest dog on the planet.

In February this year, Oscar developed pancreatitis and had to be taken off his steroids, he fully recovered from the pancreatitis but he could barely walk. We had to make a decision, steroids again and risk a relapse but at least he would be able to walk still. The vet agreed that quality was more important than quantity and so he picked up again.

The last 3 months of his life, he seemed to talk even more, to the point that we couldn't watch TV because he made so much noise. I am not sure what he was trying to tell us and what I would have given to just understand one word. His mobility was limited but he still wanted to go for a walk, never happier than when he was carrying a huge rock, so much so that he had worn his teeth away.

Sadly on 28th June this year we had to make the hardest decision we have ever had to make. Oscar couldn't get up, bless him he was still rolling his ball to us and chatting away, but he couldn't get up. We made the decision to have the vet come to the house so that he would be with his ball and his mum and dad would be cuddling him, on his favourite bed in his favourite spot. He really knew nothing of what happened, he just went to sleep. His lifelong pal, Felix watched and just got up and walked out of the room.

We miss him every single day and I wonder when the pain will go away. Felix seems to have adjusted really well and for once in his life he is top dog, but at nearly 11 we know he has limited time. He is currently being spoiled rotten.

We have since moved from Scotland and I watch Felix carefully, so much has changed for him. Not only did he lose his pal, we also moved house. I think it's time now to get him a new pal, I see him on his walks looking at the other dogs, and I am sure he misses Oscar as much as we do.

We have decided to adopt a German Shepherd and give a dog a second chance.

Love your dog and treat each day as a blessing, you have no idea how big a hole they leave in your life and I can only be thankful that we were blessed with such an amazing dog who would have given his life for us.

I would also thank all the staff at the Lamond Vet Practice in Livingston, with a particular thank you to Bill. Bill went over and above the call of duty for Oscar, even he said he had never known a dog that had so much adversity in his life yet he was the gentlest and most even tempered dog he had known.

Rest in Peace Ozzy where ever you are, one day we'll all be together again.