A Treat for Dog Lovers, My Weekly 2018
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Year of the Dog A TREAT FOR DOG LOVERS February 16 sees the start of the Year of the Dog in the Chinese calendar, but for dog lovers everywhere, every year is a dog year! 16 From celebrities to shopping, dogs who help us, and people who PACKED help dogs, we have a world of dogs for you to enjoy! PAGES CANINE CELEBRITIES! These well-known and loyal pooches from past and present have a very special place in our heart… Blue Peter’s Shep The legendary Blue Peter pooch was almost always at presenter John Noakes’ side as he undertook his many adventures. However, he wasn’t always the best behaved of dogs, leading to John’s catchphrase, “Get down, Shep!”. When John left Blue Peter in 1978, he took Shep with him and the pair made several TV series before Shep retired to a home in the countryside. Shep died in 1987 A statue in Bobby’s and, 11 years later, John still honour found it impossible to talk about his beloved companion without Greyfriar’s breaking down. Bobby When Edinburgh gardener John Gray Digby died in 1858, he was ITV’s This Morning team buried in the city’s currently includes a Greyfriar’s Cemetery. gorgeous Labrador After a brief ceremony retriever pup called Digby at his graveside, the who is destined to mourners drifted away undertake a very – apart from Bobby, important role when he John Gray’s faithful grows up. Skye terrier. Digby is a Dogs for For the next 14 Good puppy and, after years, Bobby refused spending his first 16 to leave his master’s months being socialised side. He had no home and making television and no owner to feed appearances with Phillip him but the people of Schofield and Holly Edinburgh ensured he Willoughby, he’ll undergo didn’t go hungry and specialist training at Dogs Bobby stood guard for Good’s headquarters. over his master’s “He’ll help those with grave until he died in health issues, in hospital January 1873. Phil and Holly are or with a disability,” enchanted WORDS: WENDY GLASS PICTURES: REX/SHUTTERSTOCK, ISTOCKPHOTO, ALL STAR PICTURE LIBRARY, ALAMY, BBC PICTURES ALAMY, PICTURE LIBRARY, WORDS: WENDY GLASS PICTURES: REX/SHUTTERSTOCK, ISTOCKPHOTO, ALL STAR explained Phillip. 24 My Weekly REFRESH SPECIAL Year of the Dog Dorothy’s faithful companion Toto, Wizard of Oz Dorothy’s beloved little dog in The Wizard of Oz was played by Terry, a black Cairn Terrier. Terry was already a Hollywood regular when she stepped onto the Yellow Brick Road and she received a higher salary than many of the human actors on the film. During filming, Judy Garland became very attached to the terrier and, when one of the Wicked Witch of the West’s guards stepped on Terry’s foot and broke it, she nursed Terry back to health at her home. Unbreakable Pudsey bond Pudsey and his owner, Ashleigh Butler, won Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 – and proved they were no one-hit wonder by going on to build a successful showbiz career. Pudsey, who was a cross between a Border collie, bichon frise and Chinese crested powderpuff, died last summer, leaving Ashleigh heartbroken. “My handsome man has gone and I don’t know what to do without him,” she said. “He was my one in a billion dog.” Together TV’s Lassie again Finding Gobi Lassie made her first When Dion Leonard took on appearance on the silver the challenge of running 77 screen in the 1943 movie miles across China’s Gobi Lassie Come Home – and she Desert, he didn’t expect to was actually played by a lad! be joined by a lovable mutt! Pal was the star of the first However, after crossing seven Lassie films and when he the finishing line, Gobi retired, the role was handed disappeared. Dion returned over to his son, Lassie Junior. home to Edinburgh but soon The films were such a success, returned to China, where he a TV series was launched – and launched a search. Four when filming was underway, Pal months later, Dion found Gobi would accompany his son to and, after a global fundraising the set every day, watching campaign, was able to fly Childhood favourite from a special bed. home with his running mate! Adorable Marley Bringing Mayhem to Marley & Me The hit film Marley & Me tells the story of a couple, played by Jennifer Anniston and Owen Wilson, who welcome a mischievous puppy – Marley, who is played by 22 different dogs – into their home. Based on a true story, during the film, Marley goes from an incredibly cute golden Labrador puppy who specialises in mayhem to a 14-year-old, much loved family pet. A real tear-jerker! My Weekly REFRESH SPECIAL 25 FOUR-LEGGED HEROES These faithful and talented companions have changed the lives of their owners with their loyal dedication an’s best friend is Crufts in 2017. “We adopted my brain is in a fog and he also man’s Bowser from Battersea Dogs gives me a reason to get up bravest and most & Cats Home because of his in the morning when I’m in M loyal friend, as big character,” explained pain. Bowser is so special dogs have proved time and Sally, who has multiple – he’s a rescue dog with no time again over the sclerosis. medical training, no centuries. “Three months after assistance training and no History is packed with adopting Bowser, I relapsed detection training. He’s tales of dogs who would do and passed out on the sofa. learnt this all himself.” anything for their owner, My husband was in the Lynn Ratcliffe’s seizure from the loyal terrier who hid garden but Bowser attracted alert dog Simba gives her in Mary Queen of Scot’s long Roxy has a special his attention and he came 24 minutes advance warning skirts as she made her way talent inside and found me of a seizure, enabling her to to the executioner’s block, to unconscious. This was the get to a safe place. the fearless pit bull cross Police but not so long ago, first time Bowser saved my “Simba has given me my who was promoted to she was just another life and he continues to do life back,” said Lynn. sergeant after sniffing out a unwanted, abandoned dog. so by licking my hands and “Having a seizure alert dog German spy in World War 2. Roxy was being cared for at arms whenever I start to doesn’t just mean Today’s dogs are just as the RSPCA’s West Hatch relapse. independence, privacy and inspiring. The 2017 winner Animal Centre but with “Bowser also gives me assurance for me, it’s had a of the Dickin Medal – the thousands of Staffies emotional support. Bowser life-changing impact on my animal equivalent of the looking for a new home, her makes me confident again, family as they know I’m safe.” Victoria Cross – was Mali, a future was bleak – until he gives me a focus when The natural connection Belgian Malinois who served with the Special Boat Service in Afghanistan. “Having a seizure alert dog has had a Despite being wounded, Mali sniffed out explosives and life-changing impact on my family” enemy fighters during an eight-hour combat against Roxy’s impressive talent for Simba is there for the Taliban, saving lives and sniffing out tennis balls Lynn providing British forces with brought her to the attention vital time to complete their of the local police force. operation. “Roxy really shone during “We felt that we had a her training,” said police dog guardian angel amongst us,” trainer Ian Partington. said Mali’s handler in “Police dog Roxy may not Afghanistan. “Nothing was have had the easiest start in going to happen to us.” life but she has a great Staffordshire Bull Terrier career in front of her.” Roxy is another dog whose Sally Deegan’s English speciality is saving lives. bull terrier Bowser was Roxy is a police explosives awarded the Eukanuba WORDS: WENDY GLASS PICTURES: REX/SHUTTERSTOCK search dog with Wiltshire Friends for Life award at 26 My Weekly REFRESH SPECIAL Year of the Dog Sally and Bowser “Theo will forever be curled up next to Liam” “My son, Liam Tasker, was a dog handler in the British Army,” said Jane Duffy. “Liam lost his life to a sniper’s bullet when on patrol in Afghanistan – and his dog Theo died of a broken heart a few hours later. “Theo was exceptionally good at finding explosives and looked after my son all the time he was in Afghanistan. It helps me so much to know Theo was with him at the end. Ethan with Jay “Liam is buried with Theo at his feet. Theo will forever be curled up next to Liam, just as he was in between dogs and children calmer and able to attend a his favourite spot in his sleeping bag.” has led to an inspiring mainstream school. “I could Liam and Theo’s story features in Isabel George’s partnership between not be prouder of Ethan,” best-selling book Dog Soldiers (£12.99, published in 14-year-old Ethan Dysan and revealed Mandy, Ethan’s hardback by Harper Collins). his autism assistance dog mum. “Thanks to Jay, Ethan Jay. Ethan has been autistic is able to go out normally since he was two, when his and no longer has behaviour became erratic meltdowns – Support Dogs and he would scream and and Jay have played a run away when out with his massive part in Ethan’s mum, making it difficult to growing up.