19/08/2026
Where to begin… Firstly I would like to start this post with thanks. Thank you to everyone who has sent me messages, kind words, cards, presents and care packages. The outpouring of love I’ve received from everyone has been overwhelming.
My life with Diogie was LOVE. Please do not feel sad for us. We had a great 14 years together and I’m thankful for every moment of this. Diogie and I had the best relationship - companionship, love, family, each other.
This boy changed my life in a million different ways. Firstly I lost and kept off seven stone in weight. Secondly, I took up running to tire him out! This then led to me taking part in trail runs, obstacle course races and 10k races. We took up paddle boarding as it was something we could do together. This led to us taking part in the Dog surfing championships twice. Our photographs were in pretty much all national newspapers, south today and all over social media.
We had so many adventures together we loved to go camping, Diogie loved van life. We’ve climbed Snowden. We’ve been to the dog swim at Saltdean Lido for four years. My boy LOVED to swim. When he needed hydrotherapy, it was his favourite half an hour of the week, he couldn’t wait to get up that ramp and get in the pool.
The biggest change for me was my job. I took up dog walking because I wanted to spend my days with him and this was the easiest way to accomplish this. I adore my job, this is hopefully my forever job. My entire life is filled with fun, nature, exercise, love.
I have so many wonderful new humans in my life, friendships that I cherish.
Diogie gave me everything he had throughout all of his life. More noticeably since his mobility issues began and his health problems too. Diogie took every set back, every adjustment made, every treatment taken in his stride.
The time was right to let him go. It wasn’t too early., it wasn’t too late, it was the right time. If he had more to give me, he would’ve done so. I know this in my heart.
He loved life, he loved people, he loved adventure, he loved to swim, he loved to play catch with his toys, he loved his doggy mates, he loved me.
He didn’t just have me either. He had another mum, a Daddy, a Nanny, a Grandma, and more Aunties and Uncles that I could possibly mention.
He had great relationship with kids and he touched more than just my heart. He loved and was loved by many.
There will always be a bit of sadness in my heart when I think of Diogie, but only a little bit. I’m refusing to let the sadness take hold. My boy filled my life with love, filled my heart with love and I’m refusing to let that go.
I have so many fun memories of the adventures that we had together. But the memories I have stored at the front of my brain are of just us being together. Nothing dramatic. Just together. Better together.
There will be a new dog in my future, a new dog that will also fill my heart with love. This dog will have a home because of the life I had with Diogie. Because I know that I’ve got plenty more love to give. There’s plenty of room for more love. Diogie can’t be replaced, but new members of the family are always welcome to be added and also loved.
So again as I started this message please don’t be sad for me. Be happy he has not left a hole in my heart. He has filled a hole in my heart that I didn’t know was there. This is not a sad story. This is success story, a happy story, a happy ending. The ending was love.
P.s. apologies, the video is long. I could have done a double movie feature with the amount of videos that I have! 😆🩵❤️🌈
