Dear
Vince,
I felt that I must contact you. I am not sure if you remember back
in April 2003 you contacted me with a Shar Pei who needed a new
home. His name was Chester and he was in Todmorden in Yorkshire,
having been taken to the vets by his owner to be put to sleep
because of an abscess on his bottom. The vet refused and
subsequently my husband and I were lucky enough to be able to go and
fetch him. We added a name so he then became Chester Onions. He
was 6 and a half years old. Apricot coloured.
It is with the greatest sadness that I should let you know that
Chester Onions (Bunions as a nick name) passed away this afternoon.
He came to us looking very skinny and with poor skin 4 years ago,
but we nursed him back to health. He had some back problems, but I
think that was in sympathy with my husband. Chester made my husband
walk again after severe problems and saw him through double disc
replacement surgery. My husband (Andy) really feels that he owes
his current health to Chester.
When Chester became a bit slower on his feet, he was greeted with
the addition to our family of CoCo Bear Woofelz, another Shar Pei
who quite simply is crazy!!! she got him back on his feet, and made
him feel not so lonely after the loss of his best friend Brian the
cat.
Chester had a growth on his leg, he suffered with his skin as I
said, and he had elephantitus in his back legs. The growth had been
there for some time and the vets said that it was not sinister, it
could be lopped off if we wanted, but it was a collection of fluid
and wasn't hurting him. We were fine with this and Chester Onions
carried on being himself, snoring like a train, sniffing every
single lamppost and street sign, and requesting regular back
rubs!! along with insisting that he have his space on the settee
every night!
2 days ago the growth got bigger, in quadrupled in size and changed
in colour, so back to the vets we went. And they were very straight
with us, they could operate, he might not get through it, and they
might not be able to close the wound. It was now a solid growth
inside, and 2 more had started to form on the inside of his leg as
well. Or we could let him pass, with no pain.
We took Chester home and today we went back to the vet, we had one
last night with him to say our farewells and to thank him for being
part of our lives. He passed away this afternoon with us both by
his side.
I would like to say a great big thank you to you Vince for allowing
us to have the pleasure of Chester in our lives, he was a credit to
Shar Pei's everywhere and his temperament was amazing. He was a
best friend to us, and more. Paul Saxton has been a wealth of
advice and support to us throughout our time with Chester, and we
continue to be in touch with him. To rescue a dog is amazing, but
to have them rescue you too is something more.
Many thanks once again, and my best wishes to you. I have attached
a couple of piccies.
Becky and Andy (and CoCo Bear - cause she loved him too!)
