When they were just pups, Koko and Buster were rescued by us. Buster was re-adopted by my aunt, wildlife artist Patricia Wright and when she was no longer able to care for him, Buster trotted over to the family of the publisher of the newspaper I work for. He had a wonderful life and lived it to the full, up until the last week of his life. At the age of 14, and just shy of his 15th birthday, Buster suffered terrible seizures and was in great pain. There was no alternative but to put him to sleep. It was a sad day for everyone, but I’ve always felt that it’s not the length of a dog’s life that is important. It’s the quality of their lives – and Buster certainly had a quality life.

Rest in peace, old boy.