I’m going to miss you Storm

Yesterday I had to do what I’ve been dreading for a while and take our sheepdog Storm off to the vet to have her put down. I am heartbroken. Everywhere I look here at home and it feels like Storm should still be there. I came downstairs this morning and Storm wasn’t there to greet me and I feel lost………..

I never thought that Storm would get to nearly fourteen and a half, indeed we nearly lost her to illness when she was much younger. I know she was not going to go on forever, but you still dread that day when you have to do the right thing and end their life. Like with my first sheepdog Jess, I got to hold Storm as she died and it was really peaceful. My eldest daughter is in France and my wife is away walking the Camino in Spain, but luckily my youngest daughter got back from travelling the other day so we can be sad together here at home.

I’d love to be able to add up the miles that Storm did with us over her lifetime. Thousands upon thousands of dog walks, who knows how many fishing sessions with me, I dread to think how many miles of running with both my girls, and then more recently, running with me as well. Sometimes we would almost share Storm around between us and she loved it - I might take her fishing, then my wife might grab her for a walk the moment I got home, then one of my girls might grab Storm for a run etc. She took it all and had a great life with us. When I did my Couch to 5K, Storm did every single bit of it with me and I don’t think I’d have got through it without her willing me on. I haven’t taken her out fishing on the rocks for a few months now, but only a couple of weeks ago Storm was fishing with me on some estuary marks and loving it.

We had Storm from eight weeks old and I trained her. I had to train her harder than Jess because she was a stronger dog, but damn she was bright and sharp and wanted to learn. Sheepdogs are so intelligent, they demand a lot of you, and they give you so much back. That’s the reason we love them. I feel a bit lost here at home and there are still so many signs around the house that up until yesterday lunchtime we were a household with a much loved dog. But we aren’t anymore and it feels awful. You all have a good weekend and I will see you next week…………