The tale of Paddypants the kindest dog in the world.......

 The story of Paddy starts not long after moving to Devon. I moved in the August of 2004 and by the February 2005 I had decided to go and look in the rescue kennels for a third dog. I already had Blue and General, but Blue was getting quite old and struggling with his hip after his road accident.
I found the name of a rescue kennels just outside of Plymouth, 'Gables Farm' and spent a Saturday afternoon looking round all the dogs.

 One particular dog caught my attention, he was pacing round and round and would occasionally jump up at the fence, then pace round and round again.
He had a happy smiley face like a clown and was excitable as soon as I approached the kennel.
He continued to smile at me as he paced around and I read his information.
He was called 'Paddy' had been there a while after living in a small flat in Plymouth. They didn't realise how big he would get, a collie x lurcher.

 I had a look around at the other dogs but I kept looking over at Paddy as he continued to pace, he didn't want to be there, he looked anxious and desperate for a good run.
I went and asked to take him for a walk and was met with worried glances. It appeared that Paddy was not great on the lead and pulled a great deal.

So, he was leaded up and I was pulled around the enclosure at a great pace, my arm slowly leaving my shoulder the longer we were out, but there were a few quiet moments, where I made him sit and have a cuddle.

 I decided then that he needed to meet Blue and General and a day later I took them down to meet him.
They were let out together in a small enclosure and appeared to just ignore each other! I guess that was better than a full on dog fight, but to be honest, all my dogs have always got on with other dogs so it was all good.

A week later I made the journey to Gables Farm with Blue and Gen in the car too. I have a Toyota Rav 4 at the time so plenty of room for all 3 of them in the back.
As I got there I was told, very apologetically that they had not had time to bath him for me, but if I wanted to wait they could do it within the hour. I declined and said that I could do it when I got him home. He did though smell like a kennel and even the other two looked at him in disgust as I packed him into the back of the car with them.

I made my way towards home with a slight detour to South Milton Sands. It was just down the road from where I lived and it's still one of my favourite beaches.
Blue and Gen ran off lead and I kept Paddy on a strong lead and walked him down to the sea to try and get a little of the smell off him.
After an hour we headed back up home.

 The first thing I did was to bath Paddy, he was not at all impressed, jumped out the bath covered in foam, ran around the kitchen and pee'd and poo'd on the floor! That was the last time he did that, he didn't like getting told off.
I got him back in the bath, rinsed and dried him, gave him a big cuddle then gave them all their tea.
I was exhausted! I put on the tv and laid out on one of the sofas, drifting slowly off to sleep.

I awoke about an hour later and was aware of a weight on me, I looked over my shoulder to find Paddy spooning me! He had crept up onto the sofa, laid down behind me and was cuddling me with his big Paddy long legs. As I looked at him he gave me a look, like, 'what? I thought you needed a hug'
I've never forgotten that moment, it wasn't that Paddy needed the love after months in kennels, but he felt like giving me some love back. He's always been a cuddler ever since.

Amongst our friends there were a few who couldn't quite deal with Paddy's excitable nature. Paddy was a force to be sure, jumping up on people's laps, running around in circles, just being a hyperactive hound, but because of his size he was very evident!
Steve, was not Paddy's fan, let's hope he would have liked him as he matured, not that Paddy really did mature in his time with me. Even to his last day I swear he still thought he was 2 years old.

About a month after bringing Paddy home I moved out to the farm at Hutcherleigh. Plenty of space for the dogs to run around, but Paddy was a little awkward, he was scared of cows and loved to chase the little birds as they flew from the barn outside and back in again.

Then, there was the chicken incident, he got in to were the free rangers were and bit the bum feathers off one of them, wounding it and making it fly off.
I spent an hour chasing through the field and hedges trying to find the chicken, it lived for a little longer but the others started pecking at it's bum so it had to go.
I knew then that the relationship between Paddy and birds was going to be an interesting one.

We had a good summer at the farm, lots of fun was had, Paddy helped to plant the whips with me and chased the wheels on the land rover, he also got to play with the Raleigh grounds Team who had great fun at break times kicking a football about for the dogs.

 Then September came and I bought my little pixie house in Totnes. Not far from the river, the park and school fields close by, great places for the dogs to exercise, so it didn't really matter how small the house was.

Blue was on his last legs by the time we moved, and like last Saturday I called the vet to the house as I couldn't bear to take him in to the vets, it was too much.
Timmy was with me and helped to carry Blue out to the vet's car. It was heart breaking. Paddy though, un-phased kept me smiling with his funny little clown face. It was just General and Blue now.

And the bird saga continued.....
Swifts in the roof.
Little birds nesting in the eaves.
Ducks on the river......and finally, Paddy's Nemesis - Swans!!!

I lost count as to how many times Paddy tried his luck with those swans and I occasionally feared for his life as a wing swung close by his neck, but still he persisted.
Paddy was no swimmer, he would go into the water and loved it, but would never go out of his depth, a little like me really, but he did love it, especially to cool down in the summer, he also liked to do that in large muddy puddles!
Time moved on, Timmy moved on, and out and to fill the void I got a puppy, little Murphy, soon to be Paddy's best friend.

As much as Matthew was an arse, he did an amazing job at training little Murph, and he was soon to show up Paddy, but Paddy was Paddy, never to be changed.

Then, General started on the slippery slope of ill health and the decision was made, I took him down to the vets and stayed with him whilst he drifted off into doggy heaven. I was so upset, I left the vets, threw Paddy and Murphy into the car and drove to Haytor for a very windy and dark walk across the moor. Nothing prepares you for the passing of a beloved pet, and it doesn't matter how many times you do it, it never gets any better.
Paddy kept things happy with his beloved clown face and silly antics.

We would go off at the weekend around Castle Drogo and Fingle Bridge for lovely long walks, the boys loved it and every opportunity to go somewhere new, we did it. Those dogs got a lot of adventures.

Then, Matthew went (thankfully) and I started to go on a lot more road trips and adventures myself! The start was going to see my cousin John in Gweek, Cornwall.
We went off in my mini down there and met him at his boat, where he lives. This was a new thing for both dogs, and they got to meet Jelly, John's dog, who was most certainly the boss!

We did some coastal walks with them all and made our way to John's Mum and Dad's place, near Lizard. Paddy and Murphy ran around the garden there exploring, and then we heard the noise! *splash* we all looked at each other, Murphy and Jelly were there next to us, it was Paddy, we ran over to where the noise came from and there he was, in the weed-covered abandoned swimming pool, in a blind panic!
We called him over and John leant in and managed to grab his collar and pulled him out, it was so funny! I believe they have since filled it in! But of all the dogs to fall in, it had to be him!

Back on the boat Paddy and Murphy settled in, but after a time we noticed Paddy staggering about as though he'd been drinking.
Paddy was no sailor that's for sure, his long legs were not sea legs and he was very unsettled. As soon as the tide went back out he was ok again.
Murphy was completely unaffected!

Paddy and Murphy had a very good friend, Alfie too. Alfie was also a bird chaser and he came to stay with us whilst Keiley was on holiday. We had a great week and I was sad to see Alfie go.
Alfie sadly left us last year, so he and Paddy can run and play with the birds in doggy heaven together again. R.I.P. Alfie.

Then, the terror arrives on the scene, Finnegan the nutty springer spaniel!

Paddy was not impressed at first, this was something I hadn't seen in him before. He was starting to show age, but not for long. Soon him and Finn were both hassling Murphy  together, the 2 dogs with the naughty spot on their heads.

Soon all 3 became great friends, a trio in crime, all very different in character, but you would never find better friends.

Last March Paddy became lame on his right side. It was a worrying time for all of us and after great expense and X-rays I had to deal with the fact that Paddy had severe arthritis in his hips and was to be medicated for the rest of his life. In hindsight I am so glad I didn't opt for the hip replacement bearing in mind the diagnosis last week.

Paddy's quality of life changed, he was to have lead walks only, could only go out for short walks, 4 times a day instead of a long run. It was awful for him and certainly didn't suit his explosive personality.
I eventually let him off at Welcombe Mouth Bay on a visit to North Devon and for a few months he was off the lead for short walks.

Just before Christmas Paddy was on and off lame again on the other leg. We tried increasing his pain relief, treated him for a possible infection, but he was getting more and more lame. Last Wednesday he went in for X-rays and I was told the awful news...Paddy had a fast growing bone tumour that was to be very painful for him, he would probably never weight bear again and so all the pressure was on his arthritic hip.
The future looked awful for him, no chasing the ducks or swans, no runs in the park or through the woods, all the things that made a Paddy were not on the agenda, he would suffer more pain and his life would be awful.

Last Saturday I made the call, the vet was to come out to home, I let the other 2 in the garden and shut the curtain so that they couldn't see.
The vet was surprisingly young (or I'm getting surprisingly old?) but had the most natural manner, not only with Paddy but with me, the owner. He put me at ease, letting me know I had made the right decision and as I cuddled Paddy, he gently slipped off to sleep.
I felt a weight lift, he was no longer in pain.

The vet suggested that the other 2 come in and see what's happened so they can move on, so I let them in, and after a bit of bouncing from Finny, he went up to Paddy's head, licked him on the nose and then got into the bed to join Murphy.
We wrapped Paddy up and carried him out to the vet's car.
As he shut the door he turned to me and said, 'if I were you, I'd go out straight away with your other 2 and get some fresh air'
That's exactly what I did. It's still empty feeling in the house, Paddy was not only a big presence in size, but also in personality, it's a big gap to fill after so long, but we are getting there, and the other 2 come running with me now. Time will heal I guess?

Rest In Peace Paddy, you absolute legend of a dog.