04/09/2026
Tonight we are sad, in fact, sad is not enough to describe how we feel.
Devastated is more appropriate.
Our beautiful, kind, loving girl Florence has passed away.
A couple of days ago, she went off her food.
Not unusual for her, she often had a bit of a bad tummy, so we didn’t think much of it.
However, last night, she was clearly uncomfortable.
She was having to make a real effort to breathe and it was wearing her out.
So I stayed up through the night with her, she had lots of love and cuddles, and although she couldn’t sleep, she was relaxed.
I made an appointment to see our Mac at Island Vets - Stafford & Stone
When he saw her, he was concerned. I assumed it would be an infection of some sort, some antibiotics and we’d be on our way home.
But Mac wanted to scan her. No other signs of infection were there (high temp etc) so he wanted to investigate further.
I left her there and waited for a call to collect her.
Unfortunately, the call that came was awful news.
Florence had a huge tumour inside her heart.
It was the biggest the vets have seen.
It would not have been fair to take her home, as much as I wanted to, to say goodbye, she would have declined, so we decided to let her go peacefully.
My daughter, son in law and son came with me as it was such a shock. # #
She died peacefully with us all around her. She knew we loved her dearly.
When flo came in from the pound, she was in such a state. Covered in mange, ear infections, skin infections and a broken tail, that was so bad, it had affected her nerves and muscles in her spine, leaving her incontinent.
She had been bred from numerous times, her teats still raw with teeth scars from her last litter.
She battled through treatment for her infections, mange and surgery to remove her tail.
She then had her second surgery to spay her.
All the way through, she was nothing other than perfect.
She was loving, loyal, well behaved and grateful.
After everything so called humans had done to her, she was still willing to trust and love.
She made such massive progress. Her beautiful shiny fur came through.
Her wonderful personality shone when she wasn’t itching and in pain any more.
People will say she was lucky to find us, but in all honesty it was a privilege to have had her in our lives.
I was angry that no one came forward to adopt flo, I knew what an amazing girl she was and wanted her to find her very own family.
Now, I realise, she had done just that. It was meant to be. She loved us as much as we loved her and she felt safe.
I wish we had the days to show her the seaside. I wish she could have had a Boycies Christmas, with presents and treats.
But it wasn’t meant to be.
I will never understand how life can be so cruel. Florence deserved so much better. But she’ll forever be a Boycies girl. She was our family and she will be missed.
We love you Flo. Sleep tight beautiful.
