Goodbye Zak - "He was my world"

Zak last week - the morning of the day he was PTS

I was really sad to hear of the death of Zak the Boxer who featured in the first Pedigree Dogs Exposed.

The footage in the film of Zak's epilepsy (he suffered from cluster seizures) caused controversy.  First, it was extremely distressing; second some thought it inappropriate for a film crew to have been present (in fact we weren't there; we had given a camera to Joan and her partner Fred to film it themselves.)

There were accusations too that Zak wasn't show-bred so shouldn't have been in the film as PDE focused mainly on the damage done by KC breeding of show-dogs. Others maintained that although Boxers can and do suffer from epilepsy, there are certainly other breeds that are worse-affected (as indeed, we did state in the film).

Poor Joan got a lot of flak after the film but she always stuck to her guns that it was important for people to see what it was like for owners to deal with epilepsy - which in some breeds is frighteningly common due to inbreeding and a breeder-culture of brushing it under the carpet.

It has been a terrible, terrible last 12 months for Joan. Last September, she lost her long-term partner Fred. Joan nursed him at home and he died surrounded by their three Boxers.

Fred with Boxers Zak, George and Tasha

Then, just 16 days after Fred died, Joan lost her younger Boxer, Tasha, aged 7 to a brain tumour.

Tasha (left) with Zak

Now Joan has lost her beloved Zak and is left with just Georgie, her white, deaf rescue Boxer.

"Zak was my world," says Joan simply.

Joan did a truly amazing job of caring for Zak given how severe his epilepsy was - something her vets have applauded her for,  too.

Joan was also very brave to let us use the footage of Zak in PDE. 

She has my admiration and heartfelt thanks. 

Zak in his younger years 

Zak with Fred in Pedigree Dogs Exposed