Veles, my English Bullmastiff, has died. He was born on April 30th (Walpurgisnacht) 2007. Next month he would have been 10, which is a fairly good innings for a molosser. He was named after Veles, the Slavonic god of the forest, animals and the underworld.
He was a really sweet dog and very soft with those he loved, especially kids. His life was not without conflict, however. He accompanied my wife’s uncle, a cow herd, into the hills up until the uncle’s retirement (when Veles retired also and took up residence with him – they suited each other’s characters well). Veles killed a roe deer and a handful of cats (usually by accident) and suffered some nasty scarring on his back legs and flank after a run in with a wild boar while protecting the herd.
Over the last couple of years Veles’ health began to fail and he developed problems in his joints, most likely from dysplasia.
He was greatly loved and will be missed – especially his puppy-like crying. For me, I will remember him most for the sense of protection he gave me when i used to sleep alone at the house. I’d sleep on the couch and he’d sleep flopped across the armchair. Waking up in the middle of the night in the pitch darkness and hearing his roaring snoring and snuffling was one of the most reassuring sounds I’ve ever heard. He really was a gentle giant.
I hope the Lord of the Forest welcomes him to his land and lets him guard both his herd and his hearth. May he join Xena, my Rottweiler, and Bea, my American Bandog, in a beautiful, playful afterlife, where food is always nearby and there’s always time for games. Sleep well, little boy.
