10/03/2026
A few weeks have passed now, so I feel as if I can share this story in a way that hopefully does it justice.
In August, we had to make the heartbreaking decision to put our lovely boy Dennis to sleep.
He had been suffering with canine dementia for around 18 months and had reached the age of 13.
It’s never easy losing a beloved pet, they put their welfare in our hands and we tried to honour that trust and do our best for Dennis.
His symptoms began with what we called unexplained barking. He had food, water, comfort and was safe and secure. He’d been on a walk, done his business yet appeared very unsettled, and would just stand there barking at us non stop.
We had him checked at the vets to make sure there was no other illness or pain as an underlying cause, and he was pronounced to be in great shape for an older Labrador.
He got particularly unsettled if we had visitors round so we kept life quiet and calm for him.
We created a room that he could go in if he felt overwhelmed, and for a while this worked. But the dementia soon claimed that little haven and he got anxious if he couldn’t see us and anxious if he could.
No amount of soothing or calming would settle him.
Sometimes he would walk into a familiar room and look so confused it broke my heart.
Halfway through a walk he would point blank refuse to go any further so we’d take him home and then he would bark to go out again!
I’m not going to lie, it was hard work and deeply frustrating at times. But we chose the responsibility of having a dog and we wanted to allow him to live the best life that he could until we felt he was suffering too much and the bad moments outweighed the good ones.
There were days when he would happily bimble around the garden and find of puddle of sunshine to snooze in.
But there were days when he looked lost and frightened just going out of the front door.
We tried some dementia medication that our brilliant vet suggested, but sadly Dennis was one of the 30% who see no improvement whatsoever.
So, it was with a heavy heart that we put him to sleep in a calm and dignified way, peacefully and full of love.
There were tears, of course, but there was also relief that he had been loved enough not to prolong any suffering.
Having had the exact opposite experience with my uncle John, who also had dementia, and who passed in 2024 in the most horrific and undignified circumstances, in considerable pain and distress, constantly being made to feel as if both he and I were a massive inconvenience to the dreadful A & E ward (Princess Royal, Telford) where he died, I can only hope that when my time comes I am treated with as much respect and kindness as my dog was.
We need to do better for our elderly and vulnerable.
Picture of Dennis & Uncle John, I like to think they have been reunited 🩷
