Sandy was my late Mum's dog. I lived in England when she got him. I urged her not to as she was 82. When I first saw Sandy I knew I was wrong, it was love at first sight. He was everything a puppy should be and with all the extras. He needed very little training and when I came home to Ireland to live at my Mum's he was the perfect companion. In 2000 I had to receive chemotherapy and Sandy was a great comfort to me. He was a rock I leaned on during some very dark times.



Sandy developed bilatral perineal hernia because he had not been castrated. Despite four uncomfortable operations and a castration, the condition developed again. I felt I couldn't put him through any more operations as they were just as likely to fail. I had him put to rest, it is the hardest thing I have ever done and it hurts so bad. 



Please, if you have a male dog that isn't for breeding, have him castrated.