Ritchie passed away at approx 16:45 today. He had been blind for three weeks but had not adapted well at all, and we felt the kindest thing was to end it for him. I have not cried so much in years; at one point I really thought someone was tearing my heart out of my chest (I could feel the pressure as it moved) and at another I felt sure my eyeballs had popped out from crying.
Ritchie died peacefully in my arms and was the sort of character nobody who met him will ever forget. He spoke: he said things like "I want to go out", "Oh man!" "Rain!" and "Aw come on!" He was such a sweet little guy, and I'll miss him more than he will ever realise. It hurt so much to end his life, but I don't regret it. He had nothing left to look forward to, and now at least he's at peace.
So long, little guy: I'll never forget you if I live to be a hundred.
