I remember tentatively asking other dog owners, how do you know when it’s time? If you’re not a dog owner you probably won’t know what that question means. The replies that you’d just know when it was the right time didn’t make sense to me back then. How on earth could you know for certain? How could you make such a decision? About one year later, it was a completely different story, I just knew.
Paul wanted to hold on for another week. That would have meant another whole week for us to enjoy time with our 45-kilo boxer, Tyson, which we’d already spent 13 precious years with. It was selfish and it was cruel. My feelings no longer mattered and I knew what was best for Tyson. We made the decision, it was time.
Friday 3 December 2010 … I remember every priceless and every unbearable moment of that day. I will always remember it. The day passed by so quickly whilst I tried to hold onto as many final moments as possible but there was nothing I could do to slow the day down. I can still remember whispering into Tyson’s ear as he let out one final sigh. In that moment, my heart broke.
The first couple of days were just pure nothingness. The tears were like someone flicked a switch and they would come and go for no reason at all and at the same time for every reason I could think of. The first time I smiled again was when I saw photos of Tyson … a whole pile of physical photos that brought back a thousand happy memories. Forget the digital images sitting on my computer, for some reason these prints I held in my hand were different. They felt more special, more real. Probably because they reminded me of times I’d forgotten about. The six-month old pup with huge outsized paws, the awkward looking dog splashing around in the sea, our black & white test subject, the droopy red eyes that always made him look so sleepy, the funny little dark spots of fur on the top of his head that reminded us of President Gorbachov, the face so dark when he was young turning so grey as he aged, so many reminders of Tyson and so many frozen moments in time.
Those photos are so valuable to us that we've put them in our fireproof safe.
Loosing Tyson was agonizing; I can’t imagine the heartbreak of loosing a close family member or friend. You’d want to hold onto every moment, every memory and cherish it with your entire being. Memories fade but photos go on and on for hundreds of years and I find myself scratching my head when photography is underrated, especially on a wedding day.
Flowers on a wedding day wither, the food is eaten and gone within minutes, invitations are binned and the wedding dress, which you took forever to choose, gets packed away in moth balls.
The wedding photographs get laughed at 20 years later for the fashions that people were wearing, they get cried onto for the beloved recollections of family and friends passed away, children relive their parents’ wedding day and an old couple remember their youth. Priceless….
Here are a few of our memories of Tyson who we still miss every single day. I still cry but the photos always, always make me
smile.
The first few below are photos of glossy photos so the quality is quite bad but you'll figure out where the quality looks better and turns to digital!
It didn't matter how much Tyson slept, his eyes were almost always red!
He went nuts when Paul got on a skateboard or bike! 
Who'd' have thought Paul would go gooey over a dog?! 
Making the most of an empty bed... 
Tyson's grandmother came to visit for a couple of days. 
We owe Tyson all to Chris who gave him to us at the age of 6 months. Chris had Tyson's grandmother & mother. 
Living up to his name and biting Paul's ear! 
One of the few photos I have with Tyson whilst he was still young :( 
Our black & white film test subject! 
The boys go surfing! 
This one's here because Paul's clothes are hideous & hilarious! 
Nothing like going to the beach on a sweltering hot day. 
Hawaiian style! 
Love is in the air! 
Tyson got sick when we left him the first time to go on holiday :( Apparently the vet reckons he got depressed! 
We moved to the UK when Tyson was around 6 years old and we obviously took Tyson with us. These studio pics are from my Venture days... 
Sleepy .... again! 
Back in Cyprus...it's hot and he's panting away! I think he agreed ... the UK was much better! 
As much as I loved Tyson, he could be one hell of an ugly dog when he ran! 
Tyson, Chinese style! 
This was the last time we took Tyson to walk at Ladies Mile. 
A few of our last photos with Tyson.
Tyson's last day... and some of the only photos of we have of Paul, me & Tyson together ... 
