Lester Percival

If you’ve ever had a dog then you’ll know the pain when it dies. Waking up in the middle of the night trying not to step on it’s bed. Hearing it cry when you know it’s not there, seeing it at the door waiting for you and going to pat it with your hand out like a blind person groping in the dark.

My little fluffy friend was a Jack Russell/silky cross with the most beautiful face you could ever imagine. He had such an amazing personality. Smart, funny, adventurous, brave and virtually fearless. His name was Lester Percival and he was the most beautiful soul I’ve ever met. He would chase German Shepherds three times his size across the park. If they were after him he’d do the special zig zag run to confuse them. He’d line up his Goodos and pick them off one by one. He’d run up to strangers in the street and lick them on the leg. He’d wait patiently outside his dad’s bedroom door until he woke up on the weekends. My Lester nursed me through cancer and would jump to attention anytime I sneezed. So many memories of an exceptional little dog there are not enough words to say how much I loved him.

He was attacked once by a couple staffies. The dog had Lester in his mouth and Lester was growling. I was screaming. I managed to pull him out but is stomach was ripped open and he was bleeding like crazy. After a stay with the vet he came back with lots of stitches. He took several weeks to recover but he survived and even thrived. Then a few years later he ate rat poisoning or it may have been pesticide. He had seizures. The vet couldn’t find out what was wrong. He couldn’t walk. I gave him raw food for a few weeks and he survived. My boy was tough. When he got old and his legs gave out he still refused to give up. He got dementia, began to lose his eyesight and his hearing went. He ploughed on and on. He was miserable but tried not to show it. Then finally his kidneys gave up. It was time. I never felt so empty. He had just turned eighteen. Not bad for a little scruffy fluffy fur baby. Its been three months now and I no longer hear his cries but I feel him everywhere and know that he is with me. Rest In Peace Lester Percival and know that you are loved now, tomorrow and always.