On the 6th July this year I had to call the vet and have my beautiful Cass put to sleep.

He had recovered from his back trouble, but the previous week had been very hot and he had trouble breathing and kept panting. By the weekend he wasn't eating, and on the Sunday he wouldn't even drink.

I contacted the surgery on Monday morning and the vet came. We agreed it would be kinder to put Cass to sleep.

He was a great dog with a lovely temperament. I loved him to bits and miss him very much. When Annie died he became even closer to me, and was more like a very close friend.

When he was young he showed for some years, I handled him at Open Shows and James Gwynne, who bred him, showed him at Championship Shows.

He was really successful and managed to win Dog CC at the Basset Hound Club Championship Show (three CCs make a champion).

James got the Bitch CC at the same show with Cass’s sister, Mabel, doing the double - a very difficult thing to achieve.

Cass also had three Reserve CCs - one at Crufts; one at Bournemouth; and one at Windsor.