Monty: Pup Treads, Dave The Duck & Unconditional Love

As I walked back from Bristol Temple Meads station this morning the pathetic fallacy of the weather did nothing to improve my mood. On Saturday morning I received the worse news of my entire life, my little brother, best friend and adventure partner had to be taken across the rainbow bridge. The whole day I could not stop clutching his dog tag as I denied that it was happening.

Monty was a real character, cheeky and mischievous yet he had all the posh mannerisms of an English gentleman. A handsome and ridiculously photogenic dog that touched he lives of so many people since he was a puppy. Even as he got older his puppy eyes never left him and he knew exactly what to do in order to get what he wanted; blue cheese and port being his favourite

treat on a Sunday and "Dog & Pint" at the Barge Inn along the canal. Despite this, he had such a big heart with so much love to give that no matter how down you were he could always cheer you up. A truly unique and special dog. I have been truly blessed to have had such a fantastic companion.

It all started in 2005 when we were living in Bielefeld, Germany. An advert placed in the newspaper and a two hour car ride to Moenchengladbach to see the puppy that would eventually grow into our Monty. When we first met all those years ago, I was in love with my Nike Total 90 trainers (all the kids had them) and wore them to death. I wore them when we first saw Monty, in fact Monty loved them as much as I did and started to chew on them! As I looked down there was a food mark on his back, he always was a bit messy, and knew in my heart we had to have him. Thankfully, we all wanted the "trainer chewing" one. My dad picked him up and his mum Shannon, nudged his arm as if to say "He's all yours".

We did not always see eye to eye in that first year, me and Monty, he would chew my toys and I would have to chase him to get them off him whilst getting upset. In time we started to understand each other. We used to wrestle round the carpet when he was a pup, until he got a bit bigger and I quickly realised he could beat me!

We grew up together, created many amazing and wonderful memories at home and away. Our long walks in the summer and runs all year round, through Freddie's wood and across the fields, along the canal and over the hills. They were always full of adventure and laughter, from annoying cyclists on the canal to swimming in the brook going across the fields. Playing fetch with his ball or frisbee that he would always

reluctantly bring back to you after he had fetched it. He made being outside with him truly special. Once back at home after a wash down and towel dry he would curl up and sleep peacefully after giving you a fountain of hugs as a thank you for taking him out and about.

He has had many toys over the years too, the most significant being a blue ball with red, white and yellow bones and paws over it. Currently it is sat nestled in the pond weeds, as it always ended up in there. He'd had that since he was a puppy. Like most labradors though, he loved to chew and got through multiple toys and even bits of the furniture! One contributed to one of his nicknames though, a small rubber tyre with paw grips that had Pup Treads in big, bold white writing. He loved that tyre, until he chewed it to pieces, but I believe my brother Mikey started calling him Pup Tread and the name stuck. For Christmas last year he was given Dave

The Duck and would guard it like a prized jewel, he'd be straight after you if you had Dave!

Monty was always fun but he could read your emotions like a book. He helped each of us in his own way, for me he helped me get through what was the toughest and darkest period of my life, something I am not ashamed to admit that I may never have come out of without him and my family. He would always sit by me and listen when no one else was home, he'd put up with the noise I call music just to sit with me on the floor or on my bed. I would say a lot of what I am doing now is because of what Monty and my family did for me. That is one reason why this loss is so hard. I now have to stay strong for him in the same way he did for me. He never gave up, right up until the bitter end he was a fighter and an inspiration.

I have some amazing and loving memories with Monty and like I stated previously I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to have him involved in my life for the past eleven years. It has been an incredibly tough weekend for myself and my family. We are all so thankful for all the support you have given us but we are also pleasantly surprised at how many lives Monty touched with his graceful presence.

I love you so much Monty, forever and always. I made a promise to you that when you went to meet Granddad and Guppy I would tattoo your paw on my leg. I will keep that promise. I miss you so much little man.

Photo credits go to the Fordham family