The old adage ’a dog is for life not just for Christmas’ is as true today as ever.

It is a significant responsibility not to be taken on lightly.

However, once a decision has been made the rewards a dog can bring to a family in terms of wellbeing, encouraging exercise, companionship and love are so worthwhile.

The pledge made is like other important relationships in sickness and in health.

As a boy living with my mother we always had a dog.

Our breed was a Lakeland terrier and so my affinity with all types of terrier remains to this day.

I remember as a seven-year-old being stopped outside All Saints’ Church, Alexander Drive, by a lady from one of the local newspapers who rather startled me by saying: ’Hello I’m from Strog’s Column. Would you like to do an interview?’

I had to admit I knew nothing of Strog or his column but we did the piece and it appeared in the paper as if it was Strog who interviewed me!

Does anyone remember this feature from long ago?

I have seen a soft-backed book some time ago which also concerned his travels.

(Strog was a dog who wrote a column in David’s childhood - editor.)

My own first dog was a Lakeland terrier and I bought my mother a female of the same breed.

They can be single minded and stubborn but having been brought up with one as my first dog I was very fond of him. I used to enter him in dog shows which were often held around the Christmas or the New Year.

He did quite well but the best of his type were ’hand stripped on their coat’ and I didn’t know how to do it. Sadly he didn’t get on at all with my girlfriend’s shih tzu and this caused real problems.

Later when we were married we tried another terrier type, this time a West Highland White.

Fiercely territorial, he didn’t always endear himself to our neighbours for a number of reasons.

My wife had always wanted a Yorkshire terrier and despite size difference they were good friends together for a number of years.

Our next dog was a poodle.

I had no knowledge of the breed but I have to say for 16 years he was the best dog I had ever had.

He was very loyal, intelligent, enjoyed walks and brought so much pleasure to our family that when I heard sometime later that there were two similar poodles half way through their life in Willaston looking for a new home together I grasped the opportunity, with not a lot of consultation within my house.

The brothers died within weeks of each other at Christmas a few years ago but I hope we gave them the life they deserved.

Then our original poodle Jasper died about 18 months ago.

All three had differing levels of ’doggie dementia’ in their later lives which meant different demands in terms of support needed but the affection freely given made up big style for what we were required to do.

I don’t think I would have another poodle after Jasper as he was so special and is still sadly missed.

We haven’t taken on another dog since and it’s the first time in my life that I have been without a canine companion.

When Sarah left Chester University and returned home and at 23 took on her first mortgage she also decided a dog would be a good companion.

Roxy was from Peel, one of seven female puppies, five of which had the traditional Jack Russell colourings and two uniquely all brown with little splashes of white.

She was chosen!

She got on very well as a pup alongside our Jasper and Pud the Yorkshire terrier and they spent many happy times together.

After Pud and then Jasper left us, Sarah very kindly let me spend lots of time walking around our island taking lots of photos of nature, buildings and Roxy.

She has always been very healthy with visits to the vets for annual boosters and two superficial injuries from digging in the hedgerows some years ago.

No quarterly haircut visits like the poodles, she would moult a little but never needed a haircut.

She wasn’t fussy about taking a bath either and felt she enhanced her attractiveness by sometimes rolling in whatever was about.

Then, after a thorough bath, she would run around the house like a greyhound as she dried off!

She was also the first pet that Ivy and Stan have known and was incredibly patient, gentle and fun dog for them to enjoy and learn how to care for our four-legged friends.

She loved TV programmes with dogs in them, her favourite being Eddie in Frasier. She was always a loving dog and would snuggle up right next to me or others.

Recently Roxy has been a little slower so I haven’t taken her on such long walks for a few weeks.

Favourite places for our walks were Niarbyl and Cregneash but her favourite was a run on a beach again enjoying Peel, Port Erin and Castletown where she would run around like a little pup again.

Just over a week ago she took a funny turn and started to have involuntary shaking of her head.

We of course took her straight to the vet and she was given a course of medication.

Four days later her symptoms appeared worse and she stopped eating and would drink mostly if hand administered.

Her head shook whenever she attempted to eat or drink and she was losing balance and had difficulty standing or trying to walk.

We visited the vet again and it was clear she had developed a neurological issue with the prognosis not good for a girl of nearly 14.

The vet said apart from the onset of this disorder she was very fit and healthy.

The most caring decision had to be taken, for her.

After exactly a week it was time to say goodbye, that is the hardest thing, so sudden.

She spent her last night at our house and at teatime Ivy and Stan called around to say goodbye.

Sarah was exceptional with them explaining in a caring way what was going to happen.

Ivy even though she was heartbroken suggested that we could donate Roxy’s bed and some other things to the MSPCA.

Julie and Tom visited and Roxy had a drink of water from her hand.

She slept in our room and I got up half way through the night to let her out in the garden.

She then slept on our bed and had a drink of water again in the morning so she was as comfortable as she could be.

The vet was very caring and Roxy a good patient and we said our goodbyes as she slipped away.

We owe it to our fur family to treat them with dignity and honour the life long commitment entered into.

She brought a loyal commitment to us and we returned it.

We will miss her dreadfully but have happy memories and lots of people on and off our island grew to know and love her by following our adventures on Facebook.

David’s next column is in tomorrow’s Isle of Man Examiner.