A DOG that changed the life of his disabled owner will be remembered in a 12-hour walk to raise more than £1,000 for a greyhound charity this weekend.

Monty, a greyhound, died on January 15 after an emotional goodbye with owner Richard Wheeler and walker Tracey Wysocka, when his condition deteriorated.

He had been living with osteosarcoma.

Richard, 47, of The Fox in Purton, suffers from platybasia, a spinal disease that affected his walks with Monty throughout the four years they had together.

Calling All Canines, a dog training and walking business established by Tracey in 2010, stepped in when she spotted them struggling in the snow in 2011.

Tracey, 43, of Langton Park, Wroughton, grew closer and closer to the pair, along with her team, who all grew to love Monty as they built up to four walks a week with him.

At the end of last year Monty was diagnosed with the bone cancer and despite the best efforts of Richard and Tracey to prolong his life, he died by his owner’s side in January.

Tracey said Richard had been heartbroken with the diagnosis, but faced an even tougher dilemma when the dog’s condition deteriorated to such an extent vets could do nothing more.

She said: “I told him you’re here with him now. If we leave him and he doesn’t make it, we will feel dreadful. At least this way you get to say goodbye.

“Richard said he couldn’t tell them to end his life. I went out into the corridor and broke down.

“Not a day goes by when the team doesn’t mention him in one way or another. He totally stands out on a pedestal, all on his own.”

Such was Monty’s impact on Richard’s life, Remembering Monty has been organised by Tracey and her team for Saturday, April 18.

During the walk everyone is welcome to walk their dogs for 12 hours on a route around Swindon.

Money is being raised for Greyhound Rescue West Of England, the charity which rescued Monty originally, and donations are already topping £1,000.

The walk will start from Wroughton Parish Church at 7am and finish at The Red Lion, in Cricklade, at 7pm.

“It was something I was thinking about before he died because we knew that it wasn’t going to be that long (until he died),” said Tracey.

“When Monty did eventually pass away I just got all the team together and said this is a really good opportunity for us to do something for Richard and Greyhounds in memory of Monty.

“This is about Richard, Monty and the extraordinary relationship they had," said Tracey.

“When Richard’s sister donated on the Just Giving page she posted a comment to say Monty had changed her brother’s life.

“For Richard, whenever somebody loses someone in their life, whether it’s a dog or a person, everyone rallies around and then gets on with their lives.

“I wanted Richard, through planning this walk, to keep remembering him, not just through words, but actions.”

For more information on the walk and to donate, visit: justgiving.com/tracey-wysocka, or call her on 07921 252766.