Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 10:00 pm Post subject: Farley, Simply The Best, We Miss You Terribly
Let me tell you about Farley. I rescued Farley in the spring of 2003 at just over a year old. I cannot remember the name of the rescue home but I do recall it was close to Heathfield in Sussex. When I got him he was in poor condition. He had come over from Ireland where he had been abandoned and if that was not bad enough he had been viscously attacked by a Husky at the rescue centre and suffered a severe wound to his neck. I took him home and the next day took him straight to the vet to have him looked at. I remember the vets words as if they were uttered 5 minutes ago. He walked into the examination room looked at Farle and said "What the hell is that?!" I was a little shocked so I said "He's a Yellow Labrador" looking a little stunned that the vet should have to ask. The vet explained to me that he was not asking what breed of dog he was but he was stunned at the size of him. For you see Farley was a big boy, not fat just a very very big solid labrador. The vet explained to me that he may or may not be what he called a "Mastif Lab" but in any event he was certainly the biggest lab he had ever seen weighing in at 8 stone!!
Farley was mischievous as all Labs are. He ate books, shoes, the mail and escaped from the garden numerous times. I took to training him myself which he responded to brilliantly. From the moment I started he was obedient, he came when he was called, he stayed where he was, he never pulled on his lead and he would heal brilliantly when he was off his lead.
Farley was not without his problems. He had to have a tail tip amputation 6 years ago. I left him in some kennels which shall remain nameless and someone there shut his tail in a cage door causing so much damage to the end of his tail that he had to have the tip removed. He had vasculitis on his ear tips which caused his fur to fall out on his ear tips but with the help of those wonderful people at the Royal Veterinary College it was treated and kept under control. Three years ago he had to have a cancerous growth removed from is ear and then 2 years ago he had to have major surgery for a haematoma on his ear. Through all this Farley's spirit never faltered, his tail always wagged, he was always happy to see me and anyone else.
Farley's favourite thing in the world was food, we nicknamed him "Foodley". He just loved anything he could eat. I timed him once he could clear his food bowl at meal times in 28 seconds!!
Two weeks ago Farley was diagnosed with a tumour on his paw and shceduled to have a biopsy. Money has never been an object when it comes to the health of any of our dogs. I was devastated when the vet phoned me to tell me that they had X-rayed his chest and found that the cancer was so wide spread in his lungs he had a life expectancy of 6 months. I therefore took the desicion not to put him through the unecassary pain of the biopsy but to bring him home and make his final months the happiest possible.
Sadly Farley lost his battle with this cruel and evil disease yesterday, only 2 weeks after he was diagnosed and at just over 9 years old. The vet said she had never ever seen anything so fast and aggressive.
Most Lab owners I know say that their dog is the best but Farley truly was something very special. Everywhere he went everyone loved him, even people who did not own dogs. He was a fantastic dog he touched everyones heart. Our vet is brilliant, caring, compassionate and very professional. Sadly vets have to euthenise animals all the time without any emotional attachment but our Farley even got to her, she was in tears when she found out Farley had gone.
It was my privilege to have had Farley in my life, for him to have chosen me to give his love and trust to. He leaves behind his little sister Juno a three year old black lab who adored him (as you can see by the picture), his companion Ozzy a 9 year old retired police German Shepherd and of course my partner and I his "Mum and Dad". We are all heartbroken. He was my best friend and companion, better than any human. Through good times and some very very bad times Farley's love and loyalty never ever faltered he did not deserve to go so soon and in such an awful way. He is no longer in pain and lies in our garden watching over us all.
Sleep well Big Boy, you are always in our hearts, you will never be forgotten, we all miss you terribly and we will always love you. XXXX
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Last edited by Labradore on Fri Nov 11, 2011 10:06 pm; edited 1 time in total
Hi and welcome to LF, I`m so sorry its under such sad circumstances.
Farley was indeed a BIG boy!, I`ve never seen a lab that big either, I thought CJ was big but not as big as Farley was.
He was a very lucky boy when you rescued him and sounds as though he lived a great life and didn`t want for anything, that final decision is always the hardest but sadly we have to make it all too often for our much loved furbabies.
I hope you decide to stay with us, you`ll find our members very helpful be it in a situation like this one or any other.
Run Free at the Bridge Farley, Pain Free and a Pup again
So sorry to read of the loss of the wonderful Farley.
He looks and sounds like he was 1 special Labrador.
I lost my black Lab Paddy just over a year ago in similar circumstances, he was right as rain on friday 17th september and Pts 1 week later on the 24th with the same secondary lung cancer, I know your pain.
He was 1 week short of his 9th birthday.
He too was a big boy (nearly 7 stones).
Best wishes with whatever you decide for the future, I have found jumping straight back in, with Toby was the best thing i could have done, I will never forget Paddy or any of my previous Labs, but i needed a lab to dry my tears.
Take Care.
Gary and Toby.
Im so sorry for you to have lost your boy so quickly. You were both very lucky to have found each other and have such a partnership.
Take care of yourself
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From Christine, Millie, Cassie and Lexi.
Never forgetting Carly and Abbie
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