Topaz was born on the 17th April 1994. Her mother was Genna, my daughter Nicola's dog.

Her father was a Blue Merle dog called Blue who belonged to Ruth,a friend in Hebden Bridge.

She was very loyal and home loving and was my constant companion for all of her 14 years.

Pictured in the garden of Phil's house in Aberdeen with a very young Sapphire. The change in coat colour can clearly be seen here as she was almost identical to Sapphire in colour when she was young.

Topaz had quite a serious health problem. She had Pemphigus.

Pemphigus is a rare group of blistering autoimmune diseases that affect the skin and mucous membranes.The cells become separated from each other and the epidermis becomes "unglued". This causes blisters that slough off and turn into sores. In some cases, these blisters can cover a significant area of the skin.

For many years the problem confined itself to her nose, but later spread to her legs and feet. Long term steroid treatment kept it under control and it then caused her very few real problems.

In her last couple of years she became quite hard work to live with. She became quite deaf and her eyesight dimmed. She also suffered from what we can only assume was Alzheimers. She would set off and go walking - no idea where to or why and something that she had never done before. One of the neighbours who brought her back one day summed it up quite well, in that 'The lights were on but no-one was at home'

Topaz suffered a stroke which left her paralised down one side and the decision was made to have her put to sleep.

She is buried here in the garden alongside her mother and Ruby