Chewbacca died on 26th March 2004 at the age of eight years, ten-and-a-half months.
His passing was as gentle and dignified as his life, and was mercifully swift
and almost painless. The day before, he had been as fit and healthy as ever, enjoying his walks with all his accustomed energy and enthusiasm across his favourite paths and fields, and leading his small pack with all his usual authority. But something happened early that evening; we will never know what; he suddenly appeared to be in great pain and refused even the most tempting of food. The on-call vet who visited believed that he had injured his back as a result of his arthritis, and gave him steroid and pain-killing injections. These settled him, and we nursed him through the night, but it was clear by the early hours that he could not recover, and we called the vet back to do what had to be done. If we could have chosen his final hours, they would have been as they were – once the analgesia had taken effect, which it did quickly, he had no pain and just sank slowly and gently downwards through the night. He died here at home, with both of us at his side. Afterwards, we took Darcy and Branigan on his favourite walk, and Darcy did him proud by dispatching and eating a baby rabbit in his memory! We try always to think of him with a smile, for there was never a gentler or more loving wolfhound, nor one who can have given so much happiness to his two families and his many friends in Jersey, in Guernsey and around the world. Our thanks to Ann Sillito, who bred this wonderful ambassador of the breed and gave us her blessing when we 'adopted' him, and to Kevin and Lis Broome, who entrusted him to our care at a time when we were a home in desperate need of a wolfhound. |
A Tribute to Chewbacca 12.05.95 ~ 26.03.04 |
After Chewie's death, Fran Smith-King and Bill Barnbrook sent us this poem, written in tribute to a very special wolfhound: |
Dear Chewie, how you made us laugh With all your funny ways. Your loving heart and friendly smile We'll remember all our days. You were such a gentleman, Yet the joker in your pack; You had something special too That other wolfhounds lack. One memory I still hold of you Is of running on the hill - You way up front with Paul, And miles behind was Bill. Sleep well, oh gentle Chewie, Your life was truly blessed. The day you came to Torteval You simply had the best . . .. |
In memory of Chewie, we planted a beautiful magnolia tree in his magnificent 'pit'. Paul was, of course, greatly helped in this enterprise by Darcy and Branigan, and it took as long to 'Branigan-proof' it afterwards as it did to plant it! |
All these photos were taken in the last six months of Chewie's life, a testimony to the fact that old wolfhounds can still exude enthusiasm and relish life to the full. |
