There are some dogs who are pets, and then there are dogs who become part of the very fabric of a family.
Riley was one of those dogs.
He was Ollie’s dog, his companion, his shadow and, without question, his very best friend.
There are heavy hearts around the Broadcast Centre today as everyone remembers a very special member of Ollie’s family, who has left what the late, great Seamus Heaney described as a “sunlit absence” in a home and in the hearts of those who loved him.
Just months short of his 15th birthday on Christmas Day, Riley went to sleep after almost 15 years of giving Ollie and his family the kind of love that only a dog can give.
And Riley had quite the personality.
Regular listeners to The Big Breakfast Blaa will know that Ollie enjoys nothing more than getting stuck into a few outdoor jobs around the garden.
But on one particular day, with a chainsaw in hand, Riley decided his beloved owner was in serious danger.
Hearing the chainsaw nearby, Riley wasn’t taking any chances.
He spotted an open window upstairs, launched himself out and bravely made his way towards his best friend.
Whether Ollie actually needed rescuing from the chainsaw is up for debate.
But in Riley’s eyes, there was no debate whatsoever.
That was love.
That was loyalty.
That was unconditional friendship.
Riley was there for the late nights, the walks, the quiet moments and all the ordinary days that, over almost 15 years, became a lifetime of memories.
He was Ollie’s walking companion, his shadow, his constant presence and, naturally, a great lover of a good quality bed.
He was also a regular character in the stories shared on air, and although listeners may never have met him, many will feel like they knew him through Ollie’s stories.
Riley will be deeply missed from Ollie’s home, from his garden, from his place beside his master, and from those everyday moments that suddenly feel very different.
For anyone who has ever lost a beloved dog, you know the particular heartbreak that comes with saying goodbye to a friend who has been there through so many chapters of your life.
Riley wasn’t just a dog.
He was Ollie’s best friend.
And he really was the best boy.
Listen back to Ollie’s tribute to Riley, and remember a very special dog who was loved very, very much.
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