Today I faced that decision every animal caretaker hates to have to make. It was time for 'The Rat' aka Fd Ch Little Ease Rattler to be euthanised.

He wasn't quite right yesterday, and I thought it was because of the thunder storms. This morning it became evident that he had had a major stroke. Of my field trial dogs Rat was my pet. Because of/in spite of ? his early life he probably enjoyed life as much as any animal that I have ever known. He was a psychological mess - terrified of strange pens, thunder storms, first snow - anything out of the ordinary. He insisted on urinating in his sleeping box - why ? I had to clean his coop daily. His performance could at times be brilliant or at other times a train wreck. He did things I would not have tolerated in another dog, but he flat out loved me and the life that I granted him. I am going to miss his antics. RIP Rat.