I first saw Hesky on the German Shepherd Rescue website in the November 2006. I'd lost my first GSD in the May and I just wasn't ready to adopt, but for some reason I kept going back on to the website again and again to look at him. I finally contacted the rescue in January 2007 and arranged to meet this beautiful boy.

I remember everything about the day I met Hesky like it was yesterday. I drove to kennels just past Dunblane and was met by a member of staff who led me round to where Hesky was kept. The kennel explained that Hesky and his son were yard dogs and their previous owners had moved on and literally left them behind. Someone had notified the German Shepherd Rescue and thankfully, they had taken them in to their care.

As I walked across the yard, I could see two Sheps standing up in their kennels barking furiously at me and I asked, "Is he one of them?"

"Oh no" the girl said laughing, "You'll hear him in a minute!" and right on cue, Hesky popped his gorgeous big head up and looked right at me. It was love at first sight. We stared at each other for a few seconds and then he gave out a huge, deep booming bark as if to say "Hey, you finally made it then." That was the first and last time I ever really heard him bark. In all the years I had him, my boy never barked again.

As soon as I got him home, we bonded instantly and from that moment on, he never left my side. Even though Hesky had never lived indoors before - there were no accidents. Even though he had no real training - by day two he'd nailed all the basic commands and as for walking on a lead, he couldn't have walked any closer to me if he'd tried.

The following year, my son Sean was born and Hesky showed him the same gentle love and loyalty that he'd always shown me. Never once showing anything thing but tolerance throughout Sean's 'toddler' years. We all went on to have many, many wonderful times together (apart from the odd burst football!).

Sadly, in March this year, Hesky was diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) and although it was in its early stages, this coupled with his arthritis started to cause him problems. We tried various treatments, but inevitably that dreaded time came and I realised that my best friend was struggling. In the end, I think it was Heskys big heart that gave in and on 29th May 2014, my beautiful boy was put to sleep.

I'll probably never be able to put in to words the heartbreaking pain I feel at losing my Hesk, but if I ever met the owners that abandoned him, I'd probably take their hand and shake it. I was blessed to have had this wonderful big guy in my life and for that I will be eternally grateful.

Hesky 29.05.14

Form the moment that I met you, I knew that you were mine.
Abandoned by the ones you loved, locked up and left behind.

But Lady Luck was smiling down on both of us, you see,
She lit a path of twisted fate that led you straight to me....

Admired by all who met you, adored throughout the years,
Your faithful eyes, your gentle ways and of course...your crazy ears!

You've been with me through thick and thin, so loyal till the end.
I'll miss you every single day.

My Hesk, my dog....my friend.

Sleep well my beautiful, big boy. I will never ever forget you...