Bisto was a sweetheart, the bravest most stoic soul I have ever
met. Bisto's show career went off with a bang, winning BPIS at the Eastern
Bearded Collie Club Ch. show from Minor Puppy. Sadly a few days later it
became clear that there was something seriously wrong with Bisto, in a
matter of days he was completely paralysed. A three week visit to
the Queeen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Veterinary Hospital at Potters Bar,
confirmed that Bisto had meningitis. We carried him into the hospital,
wondering if he would come out again. Three weeks later when we collected
him he actually rushed towards me, burying himself in my lap, it was a
wonderful moment. The illness however had damaged Bisto's spine and some
of the paralysis lingered in his right front leg. Bisto moved almost
sideways and never put full weight on the right leg. In later yeas the leg
was more or less carried, he would sort of flick it forward from the
shoulder. At the age of 11 paralysis over took Bisto again and after a few
weeks of caring for him in this way, his tail still wagging, still able to
eat, (he loved his food) it became clear his quality of life had gone for
good, there was no going back, and we had to say goodbye. However, Bisto
had a great life and who knew when he was so ill at 8 months he would have
another 11 years with us before things caught up with him again.
