Name: Max
Type: Dog
Age: 18
Date of Passing: 16 / 07 / 2007

Max was a border collie cross, black and white with a red bit on his noes. We're not sure where or how he started his life, but we found him at a canine rescue centre on the North York Moors in 1992. I must have been roughly 9 years old at the time. We were on a family day out, me (Rich), my brother, and our parents. I don't think back then we had any intention of actually getting a dog, but we were passing by, so no doubt my brother and I forced our parents to take a look at least. Anyway, I don't remember much as it was a long time ago, but I do remember I had picked up a tennis ball, and was bouncing it as I walked round the kennels. Max really stood out, probably because when ever I was near, his eyes were locked on that tennis ball, with tail wagging frantically. Move the ball up, down, left and right, and his head would move in perfect sync. I think we all just fell in love with him (he was also very cute and loveable), and we obviously ended up taking him home.

I don't think his previous life was too great (before joining our family), and we have suspicions he probably wasn't treated well - if one of us was just holding an air-rifle he went mad, not at all happy (we were a farming family in the country, so air-rifles were the norm really). Regardless of his past, once he joined our family, I think it's fair to say he was rather well looked after, and somewhat spoilt. By day he spent his time in the house, and by night he spent his time in the outside kennel; but this wasn't your average dog kennel... It was a particularly large shed, and he had it all to him-self (no tools, no lawnmowers, etc). This shed also had a huge open-run / fenced-area to the front (so he had plenty of space). Inside the shed / kennel, he had a proper big arm-chair to sleep on (not a normal basket or anything, oh no). Hanging a few foot over the arm-chair was a heat-lamp (the kind of thing you put over a piglet pen), just to make sure he did't get cold while outside... Like I said, he was a bit spoilt. But he was a great dog, so worth it.

One particularly fond memory; the farm we lived on was down a very long lane, and at about 3:30 every afternoon Max would sit on the large storage box in front of the bay window. Eventually my brother and I would get home from school, dropped off by the school bus at the far end of the lane. Max would see us in the distance, and go mental, until mum let him out of the house. At which point he would charge all the way down the lane to meet us (usually with a tennis ball in his mouth ready to play).

Max was also a very smart dog. He worked out how to tell people he wanted something (a whole range of very specific things), he'd find ways around things, work things out, and all sorts. Occasionally a bit too clever though, like when it was time to wash him. We'd have to spell the word “bath”, rather than say it. Every time we did say it, he shot-up and ran a mile! Not a chance of getting him to co-operate for that. Also when he was much older, he was on different tablets to help with his heart, and seeing as he would never take them voluntarily, we hid them in his dog-food, biscuits, pâté, wrapped ham, etc. Nothing worked for long; he caught on quick, and then managed to separate the tablet from everything else, and leave it to the side...

Sadly Max passed away in July 2007, after a stroke. He lived to 18 years, which for a dog was pretty impressive, and he had a damn good life.

Max really was an awesome dog, very playful, full of energy, clever, protective, and everything else you could have wanted in mans best friend. He will be missed loads. Every time I visit my parents, even after a few months, you still notice he's missing - no tapping of claws on the kitchen floor, no four legged friend to great you when you walk in, a new loneliness if I drop in home while mum and dad are out shopping.... Still... he had a great life and was very well loved.

We'll miss you Max. You won't be forgotten.