01/08/2026
A TRIBUTE TO MY BEAUTIFUL BOY SIR DOUGLAS
With the heaviest of hearts, I want to let everyone know that on Monday, I will be helping my beautiful boy, Sir Douglas, cross the Rainbow Bridge. For 12 and a half years, Sir Douglas has been so much more than a dog. He's been my shadow, my best friend, my comfort, my helping hand with teaching children to swim, my protector, my family, my soul dog. Through every part of my recent lows and every other highs, he never left my side, he just knew!. Yesterday, my friend picked us up to take Sir Douglas and me to his/mine happy place the beach. Watching him struggle to walk, seeing his back legs weaken, and watching him lose interest in the ball he once chased with such joy, made me realise what my heart already knew. Cancer has taken so much from him last year, I was told by the vet, he could have chemo or I could take him home to give him the best life. I chose the latter. 16 months he gave me, pushing through. Sir Douglas wasn't just my dog. In many ways, he belonged to our whole Roleystone community. There isn't even a fence around my home, yet he always knew exactly where home was. He even took himself for our usual walk a few days ago WITHOUT ME, lol because he knew I'd had an operation and was struggling. He'd walked around the block and was heading home, when the postie spotted him limping and took him to the local vets (thank you)
He'd happily sit outside on his bed, waiting for me to come home. Sometimes, he'd wander up the street just to make sure everything was as it should be, before returning to his favorite spot. He loved coming everywhere with me. If I ducked into the shops, he'd sit proudly on his bed, in the open boot of my car, watching the world go by. People knew my car, they knew Duggie, and they'd stop to give him a pat or a cuddle. Later I'd often get messages saying, "I saw Duggie today, so I stopped to say hello." Those little messages always made me smile because he brought so much happiness to so many people.
He loved visiting the Espresso Cafe, not for the coffee, of course, but for all the pats, cuddles and treats from everyone who adored him.
The beach is where he truly came alive. We'd swim together, search for dolphins together, and I'd throw his ball so far out to sea. People would laugh and say, "He's never going to get that." But he always did, again and again, proudly bringing it back to me. Afterwards, he'd be so exhausted I'd have to lift him into the car. We'd stop on the way home at Cockburn central where he'd lie in the sun drying off completely content.
He had his funny habits too. I'd give him a fresh bone and he'd disappear with it. Weeks later it would magically reappear on his bed outside ewwww! Old, smelly, disgusting. But to Duggie, it was still the greatest treasure on earth.
He loved his dog friends. First Macey, my daughters boxer, he loved pulling at her neck, Rollo, my sons half dog half lion and Alfie,my sons Shepard, shadow my other sons ridgeback cross, all were wonderful companions when they were young, although once Rollo and Alfie grew into giant boys, he wisely decided they were a little too big for an older gentleman. His very best friend was H**e, my mum's beautiful greyhound. They shared beach days, cafe visits, holidays, Christmases, and countless adventures, he had a second home to stay when I went away to Queensland. When H**e crossed the Rainbow Bridge two weeks ago, Duggie searched for her everywhere. I truly believe he missed her deeply. Sniffing the car before he got in, wondering around mums house searching for her to no avail, yes she'd gone and his heart broke too.
As much as every part of me wants more cuddles, more walks, and more days with him, loving him means putting his needs before my own. I know my boy. I know he's tired, and I know he's hurting. I know he is hanging in there just to be by my side as I struggle through this chapter of my life. I couldn't ask him to keep suffering just so I don't have to say goodbye. This morning, I'm taking Sir Douglas down to the Roleystone Cafe for one last coffee with our community. If you happen to see us, please come and give Duggie one last pat, I know you all love him.
Thank you, Sir Douglas, for every adventure, every cuddle, every swim, every laugh, every muddy paw print, newly formed rugs with his hair, lol and every moment of unconditional love. Dogs are so amazing, they are your companion, best mate, entertainer, and that not so nice aroma...lol
Duggie changed my life forever, and there will never be another dog like him. Run free, my beautiful boy. Chase every ball. Swim in every ocean. Find H**e,Rollo, macey, Alfie and wait for me. Until we meet again, forever my Sir Douglas, forever my soul dog. Xx
Please leave a message for him.
