Duke

Unfortunately one of our dear SCAMPS Duke has left us for the bridge...
Below you can find the obituary Glynis wrote:

"February 1st 2002 - October 12th 2008 aged 6 years, 8 months and 11 days

My darling Duke (aka Chubster, Legend, Dukester and many other names his little friends gave him) has travelled to the bridge at 10am on the 12th October OZ time.
In April 2002 Duke and his brother Sully came to live with us, he was such a darling little character he loved to run and play and boy could he climb.
He climbed so much that we had to build him a house with straight sides no wire as he would've managed to scale that. He lived with his brother Sully for quite awhile until we had to separate them cause they fought and Duke just loved to hump Sully which he was not impressed about. We divided their house in two with a wire divider which they just loved to sit beside and chat non stop all day. And when i came home from work i'd take out the divider and they'd love to run to each others areas, Sully loved to find Duke's left over food and Duke loved to go sniff where Sully had been......yes Duke loved to sniff, he sniffed everything.
When Sully went to the bridge, Duke was very very sad and lonely but i wasn't allowed to get him a friend. He also was sick and i struggled so hard to help him thru it, he was a trooper and a fighter and managed to pull thru so many operations for abscesses which threatened his life on more than a few occasions.
Each time he rallied because of his attitude and strong heart and will to live, my brave boy.
The last 7-8 weeks he has been gravely ill with pneumonia as many of you know, i was sure he was going a few weeks ago but once again he rallied. Yesterday was big clean out day for him, i'd completely strip out his house, whilst he'd patiently sit on a towel under his hidey box and wait for me, but yesterday for the first time in a long long time he poked his head out and i went over he stretched out his nose and body which meant, pick me up granny. I did this and he gave me a lovely big cuddle.
I then popped him into his cleaned out house and dashed up stairs to do his washing and make his new food. When i came back down he stretched out and took a piece of canteloupe but as his toofies were still short from when he broke them off i helped him by putting the cante in my hand and this made it easier for him to eat.
This morning at 2am feed i gave him his critical care but then he just wasn't interested in his leafies i told him it was ok i'd make it up thru the day. So off to bed i went and he too went back to bed. At 7am i got up and went and cleaned him out and made him comfortable and gave him his veggies and leafies........at 8.15am i went down again to feed him his critical care he was struggling to swallow it down so i told him i'd help him thru the day and it was ok. He then coughed and
started to breathe very quickly and i rushed up stairs to let the kids say their good byes as i just knew it was his time...........but once again he seemed to rally.
I went back down stairs with him and popped him gently down to make him more comfortable in the towel and cuddle him again, he collapsed onto his side and struggled to get up........he then again had trouble breathing, as per his usual gutsy self he battled right to the end, he even managed to climb up onto my shoulder with help and he snuggled into my neck i then quietly put him on his side and made him comfortable whilst he was travelling to the bridge.........he looked at me just
before he took his last breath he said goodbye to me. I had already told him not to worry as it was ok to go safely and be with Sully my Mum and his other little friends, and i'd promised to be there for him and I'm so glad I was.
Thankyou darling boy for letting me be your granny, I feel honoured.
Granny is devastated please wait for me, so one day I can be with you once again and cuddle you again, I will miss you so much...........it is hurting so much at the moment I can't bear to be without you.
Love you darling sweetheart xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"