Oscar

We first saw Oscar in a video from the lady who fostered him in Turkey after he’d been rescued from a grim and overcrowded dog pound.  We knew straight away he was going to be our Oscar. He joined us on 29 August 2016 probably about 5 years old, but no-one was too certain. Happy Paws, the fantastic charity that rescued him, asked if we would retain his name as it was the only thing he had he could call his own. 

From the start he just fitted into the family. Ralphie and Ada, our other two dogs, took to him straight away. Here are just a few memories. But we’ve got a thousand more besides.

The comforting weight and warmth of his head in your lap as he slept next to you on the settee.

The contentment of sitting beside him on the floor with your arm round his sturdy shoulders.

The sight of him doing the retriever thing of sleeping in the doorway between the kitchen and lounge and then apologising to him if you accidentally kicked him when stepping over him. He never held a grudge though, just a quick glance from his dreamy eyes and he’d flop down again content and comfortable.

The mayhem as Team Temple went bonkers when we came back into the house after our brief trips away to hospital/dentist appointments. With Oscar doing his bounding leaps for joy and Ada and Ralphie whirling around us all. What a team they were together.

That look of sheer devotion as he rested his head on your knees. 

The little joyful jig he did as his dinner was being prepared and the clonk he’d give Nicky with his paw to let her know his dinner was on its way.

His patience as you hooked out a chunk of biscuit that had got stuck between his back teeth and cheek and the pleasure he took from munching the fragment you found for him. It usually happened most evenings when he had his bedtime dog biscotti. Homemade dog biscotti made with flour, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and eggs (plus the shells) - Oscar loved them.

His magnificent flag of a tail as he paraded around on his walks. He always seemed so proud to be out and about with us but we were equally proud to be with him.

The pleasure Oscar took from being towelled down when he came in from the garden on a rainy day. So much pleasure he’d go straight back outside so you could do it all over again for him.

That look of contentment as he gazed out across the fields overlooking Chew Valley Lake where we went two or three times a year to visit our elder son and his wife. He loved it there, but thankfully when we got home he never turned his nose up at the view in our small garden.

That little nudge against your legs when he just wanted you to know he’s there - which he always will be.

We have never known a dog so grateful for every bit of human contact that came his way. 

Thank you Mark and Rebecca for helping us keep Oscar going quite a bit longer than we had a right to expect. A combination of veterinary skills and Rebecca’s Canine Bowen Therapy did so much to keep Oscar content. Thanks to Shelley too for getting prescriptions sorted out when we’d forgotten to order them in time and keeping everything organised. We are so grateful to have had our dogs looked after by you. When the time came to say goodbye to Oscar, Mark took us gently through the process with such kindness and compassion and then we held our lovely boy as he drifted away. 

The smell of him. The sound of him. The feel of him. The warmth of him. The sight of him. The joy of him. The memory of him. Our Oscar who died 11 April 2024.

Harry

We had to say goodbye to our wonderful and special baby boy Harry.  Harry lightened up our lives, and managed to get me through some very difficult personal difficulties. There is a spot in our hearts, that will never belong to anyone else but Harry. 

Our time with Harry was far too short. He was meant to be with us until old age…… an aggressive and rare form of cancer changed our lives forever and almost instantly. We are grateful for the time we’ve been Harry’s parents and it’s been an absolute honour.

We are glad that we have been able to look after Harry’s final moments with the support of Mark, who made sure Harry was comfortable and relaxed in his own bed at home. We are forever grateful for the support you all gave us, and cannot thank Mark enough for making our last moments with Harry so peaceful.

A big thank you! x

Megan

Thank you Mark, for not caring about our tears, for talking softly to our Meg and helping her to pass with dignity.  We got Meg 13 years ago, 9 weeks old a fluff ball, who only got fluffier every year, together with her staffy brother Harry they fitted into our crazy home. Meg loved to photo bomb family pictures, chase the birds, and scare the postie,( her personal favourite) she brought sunshine on dark days and warmth on cold evenings and more love than we could have ever dreamed. We are comforted knowing that they are both together again where the belly rubs and treats are bountiful

Molly

Sadly our beautiful Molly passed away recently. We had Molly when she was three years old and for ten years she has been our constant beloved companion. Molly was a character and always had to have the last word. Thank you Mark for making her passing a less traumatic experience than it could have been and confirming to us we had made the right painful decision that it was time to let her go. Your kindness and compassion were much appreciated. Thank you for your card and the wildflower seeds, another thoughtful gesture.

Darcy

“We got Darcy initially as a short term foster, as we had two other Rottweilers at the time. Due to her friendly and bouncy nature, she made herself a permanent member of our family. She brought so much joy to our lives in her 10 years with us. 

It was a very difficult decision to have her put to sleep following her cancer diagnosis. She was in so much pain and was always very nervous at the vets so we knew we wanted to do this at home. Mark made sure that any questions we had were answered and everyone was put at ease. Darcy was very relaxed and comfortable in her final moments. When we received her ashes, Mark included some forget me not seeds and her paw print which meant so much to us and we are forever grateful. 

We know we made the right decision for Darcy and we are comforted that she was happy, comfortable and surrounded by us. We can’t thank Mark enough for making our last moments with her so peaceful. “

Thank you so much 

Millie

It was with a very heavy heart that I made the decision that it was time to say goodbye to our beautiful Millie just after she celebrated her 14th birthday.  

I am so grateful that Mark had been able to take on her care at home and get to know her a few months before.

She had been on a slow decline for about 18 months but still enjoyed her life right up to the end.  But eventually there were too many issues and she was struggling.  Mark was supportive and kind and made the day so peaceful and showed us all compassion and gave us plenty of time to say goodbye.

I miss her beautiful and loving face greeting me each morning but it was the right decision for her - I just need to face being without her now - she has left a big void in our home.

Wooster

“Wooster was a one-of-a-kind, special boy. He came to us as a puppy from the Labrador Rescue Trust and we had the absolute pleasure of having him in our lives for 12 and a half years. There was a joy in every moment with Wooster and he gave love unconditionally and generously. Like all labradors he loved food and often got himself into trouble eating schoolbooks, crayons, apples, pot pourri and raiding the dustbins when left unattended for more than 5 minutes!

In the last year (and even the last weeks) of Wooster’s life he had been given a new lease of life by the addition of Jeeves, his baby Cocker Spaniel brother! It was a delight to see him play fight like a big puppy.

The end was quick and a massive shock to our family. Mark and Shelley were respectful, kind, and compassionate and I cannot thank them enough. Nothing was rushed or clinical and Mark was so considerate to our grief and circumstances. Wooster was able to drift away peacefully in his favourite place (his bed!) with his big sister Cookie cuddling him and his chin on my knee. He is gone but will never be forgotten ”

Mieciu

Mieciu, You survived 14 terrible years in a dog shelter just to bring 2 years of happiness to our life. 

We rescued Mieciu from one of the worse dog shelter in Poland we didn't had him for long but it was such a privilege to be short part of his journey as watching his change from terrified dog to a house dog was amazing and he never give us anything else than happiness absolutely amazing dog

Dear Mark, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your compassion and care in helping my beloved dog find peace. Your kindness during this difficult time meant a lot to both me and my furry friend. Thank you for your support. Sincerely J

Saffy

I don’t really know how to thank Mark enough.

I had never met this man but I knew I never wanted to put my dog to sleep in the vets as she hated it there. So I googled a private vets to arrange to have her put to sleep (a decision I know I had to make to put my dog out of pain)

So the 6th of December 2022 mark arrived at my house took his shoes off and had a warm presence about him and clearly had a heart and empathy and just straight away put me at ease. Saffy our 10 year old American bulldog was surrounded by all her toys a nice blanket and all the cards from her past birthdays plus a shell from the first beach she went to as a puppy. Saffy had been down for a couple of weeks but soon sprung  up and seemed happy to see Mark. Of course he made a fuss of her and made me feel like I was doing the right thing though at the time it was a blur and so overwhelming.

Mark was so calm and nothing felt rushed or pressured. He was explaining how everything  would work and gave us our time to say goodbye to saffy which was so hard especially when it’s your first dog.

I just remember how relieved her face was and so at peace when mark injected her and he said she will have no pain now and will feel so relaxed and know that your all there. 

All of her pain and stress in her face went.

He wrapped her so delicately in a blanket like a baby and was carefully placed in  the car.

I knew she was in safe hands and he would take care of her. 

I think the nicest thing for me was when Mark sent me a card for our loss along with some forget me not seeds, some of saffy’s fur, a paw print and the most beautiful box with her name and ashes in. (Not even her own vets have sent a card to this day) Plus he even gave me a bracket from her tplo surgery she had which was holding her  knee together, just another piece of her to cherish.

I will always be so grateful to Mark for making her last few moments so peaceful 

and I would always recommend him to anyone and certainly would want him to take care of my future pets. He truly is an amazing human being. Thank you


Floyd

We adopted Floyd aged 6 in 2015. He'd had a troubled start, in and out of rescue many times and we wanted to offer him his forever home,
It certainly was a challenge to begin with and we had to learn fast how to best manage him.
He was at his happiest being out with Simon, walking in the mountains and amazed us with his drive and strength. We would say he was as tough as old boots!
Over the years he softened and showed us his more vulnerable side as he would insist on a cuddle and lie on your lap (all 22kg of him!) in the evenings.
Mark helped us take good care of him as he grew older and his body began to fail and eventually we came to the day when the the kindest act was to let him go. The hardest decision we had to make and thank you to Mark for his guidance and for taking care of all of us on that day.

Run fast and free over those hills our darling boy, a force of nature we'll never forget.

Floyd   March 2009 - December 2023

Oscar

You made our family complete. You bought so much love and fun into our lives for nearly 15 years.  You loved sniffing everything, chasing your toys endlessly and most of all you LOVED FOOD! Having discovered a lump in your belly two Christmases ago, I knew we were on borrowed time, but you kept wagging your tail and following me around.  Without you I feel like I've lost my shadow.  Mark and Rebecca I cannot thank you enough for the gentle and kind way you supported our heartbreaking decision to let Oscar find his peace. Oscar hated the car, and I could not bear the thought of him being frightened in his final moments.  Mark, you were especially respectful and made the hardest day, easier for us all and for this I am eternally grateful

Thank you again

A and A

Mylo

Our beautiful Mylo. 

We would like to say thank you for all the help mark and Rebecca gave mylo. 

He had the best treatment, and he loved seeing you both. 

Mark, Shelly and Rebecca have been so kind. 

From the moment we picked mylo up we loved him, he loved his two girls so much,  he grow up with them both.  

He was the Most happy friendly dog, he loved seeing people and having a fuss! Especially when there was food around! 

He loved his walks and playing with his ball and all his dog friends.

We miss him so so much. 

Run free over that rainbow bridge our lovely boy and play with all your friends, till we meet again   

Norman

Hi Mark I just wanted to thank you again, although it’s been a difficult week for myself having to say goodbye to my boy, I take a little comfort in knowing that after 22 years of loving him that he went in the most peaceful way possible which has helped me so much & I’m so thankful for your professional approach & advice, you are a superb vet who gives compassion towards pet & owner which personally have found difficult to find in a vet in recent years.

Thanks so much

Hartley

Thank you, Mark, for your patience and kindness when we had to say goodbye to Dads 20 year old cat, Hartley  It was extra emotional as Dad had only died a few months before but Hartleys final farewell was done with love & care and we have planted the seeds you kindly sent and sprinkled some of Hartley ashes on top and around his favourite spots in the garden. 


Felix

On Thursday 10th August 2023, as a family we sadly had to say goodbye to Felix for the last time. Felix was the second old boy out of four, Tig, Felix, Socks and Marm. Felix was more playful and a true party cat. If Becky went away on holiday, Felix would be out on the town till she got back. Felix took a long time getting used to new people and changes. He didn't like change. When Felix was younger he came back home covered in blood and war wounds. 

Three years ago we had to say goodbye to Socks. Felix and Socks had a love-hate relationship going on. Felix would slowly warm up to people if they had food to give him. He didn't like to pick up cuddles, he would run away. He would come and sit on anyone's lap when he wanted cuddles. Felix had street smarts, not like his little brother Marm. When Marm was in trouble Felix would be there to save him and be the guardian angel.

Felix loved to make a grand entrance by meowing when anyone was about, for example letting him indoor or food time. In the past he would leap on any surface to stop us from what we were doing, homework, on the laptop and even using tools in the house, he was the boss.   

Felix was 12 year old and we had to say goodbye and show our respect for him being alive.  Felix would also be my cat guardian.  He can now rest in pieces with Jack, Socks, Emma and Bessie.  

As a family we would like to say a big thank you to Mark, for looking after Felix in a caring way, with dignity and respect. Mark and Felix have only met a couple times, they were like two ships passing in the night. 

Thanks again Mark for what you have done for our animal family. 

Kind regard 

Barney

Dear Mark and the team,

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your exceptional care and compassion during a very difficult time.

Your expertise, gentleness, and understanding made the process of saying goodbye to my mum's beloved dog a little easier to bear. Your professionalism and kindness helped us find comfort in knowing that our dear companion was in caring hands until the very end.

We are immensely grateful for the way you handled the situation with empathy and respect, ensuring that Barneys last moments were filled with love and tranquility. Your dedication to providing the best possible care for animals truly shines through. 

Although the pain of losing Barney is still fresh, we find solace in knowing that he passed peacefully, surrounded by people who genuinely cared for him. Your support and understanding made a profound difference during this challenging time.

Once again, thank you for everything you did for Barney Your kindness will always be remembered, and we will forever be grateful. 

With warmest regards,

Alfie

Dear Mark and Rebecca,

Thank you both so much for the lovely Sympathy card and wild seeds that you sent for our Beloved Alfie. That was so kind and thoughtful of you both.

We would also like to thank Mark again for all the care and compassion you gave Alfie and us during a very upsetting and difficult time, whilst putting Alfie to his forever sleep.
The time you spent to explain to us what will happen every step of the way and for putting our minds at ease, Alfie was able to go peacefully and with dignity and that means so much to us, we will be forever thankful to you.

The job you both do is amazing and important and any animal that is under your care is very lucky.

Kindest regards

Peppy

Sorry it's taken me so long to send you something about Peppy. We miss him very much. Every time I go to find a photo to send you I end up crying. Actually writing this with tears streaming down my face. 

I've chosen this one as he looks so happy! He's on my bed, waiting for me. His favourite place to be In fact, I have his ashes next to my bed so he can sleep with me forever. When I die he will leave this Earth with me ready for whatever comes next.

Thank you for all the fantastic care and advice you gave us. It really did help him be more comfortable and help us feel confident when caring for him. You managed to put all of us at ease and know that ultimately it was the right thing to do for our lovely Peppino. 

There would have been no one else I would have trusted to have helped him cross the rainbow bridge.

Thank you again.

Lots of love from The **** Family.

Fiona

My dearest Fi Fi aka Princess Fiona, you and I both helped each other through some very tough times in 2014 . You had been mistreated and I was recovering from cancer. You were the tonic I needed, the light in our lives and although you were only meant to be a 2-week convalescence, you stayed another 8 wonderful years. Through that time you became patient 31 of Marks and he helped you fight cancer and all sorts of skin infections and kept you in tip top health. Until reaching the grand old age of 17 in September, it was just that step too far and we couldn't keep that beautiful heart of yours strong for much longer, sadly I soon realised we had to say the toughest of goodbyes to you. We called during the night to come and help you through the struggle into the calm and peaceful place where we knew we had to let you go.

Your quiet gentle snoring slowed and came to an end whilst you were snuggled up in your blanket with your favourite toy and me sobbing by your side, it was the best thing I could do for you after all the fun adventures you have given me, Conor and Jimi your little rascal pup, but it was one of the hardest things ever.

We sobbed so hard I'm sure you could hear us as you legged it across the rainbow bridge for some peace and to find my Mum and a deer leg or 2!

Mark was so amazing and explained it all to Conor so he was as prepared as he could be and helped us say our final goodbyes. The pawprint, card and ashes were brought back in no time and she is with us still making us smile when we look at the dozens of pictures, we have around the house. Thank you so much for making our goodbyes so perfect and helping me to make the right choice at the right time, she really was one in a million, as are you all at Mark the Home Vet. Fly high baby girl x