Alfie's Home

Aidan knew the moment we had decided to build our own house that a dog was a non-negotiable for me. He never fought it & was just as excited as i was as we decided it was time to pick one out! This was 2 years ago. We headed down to the Shenton Park Dog Refuge on a lazy Sunday afternoon, strolled around the many, many cages and made a shortlist of the dogs we thought would suit us. It was horrible seeing them all . . i still don't understand how people can be so cruel and selfish. This is the busiest time of the year for the rescue havens, people buy pets from Pet Shops for Christmas & give them up when it all gets too hard :(

The first on our list was Sarah, a 3 year old Staffy. She was beautiful & obedient but as the trainer explained that Sarah has major agression issues with other dogs we knew she wasn't right for us. There was always going to be a second dog later on & weekly trips to the dog beach were already a part of our lifestyle. Dissapointed, we agreed that it wasn't meant to be. As Sarah was put back on her lead, a giant, gangly puppy bounded across the play area next to us with a teddy the size of a horse hangin out of his mouth! It was love at first sight. As we called his name he completely ignored us - he just ran non stop like a crazy person and kept banging into the fence and falling over his paddling pool. Each time he'd get back up, pick up his teddy and run off again.

The haven said Alf came to be with them as basically nobody wanted him. He was passed through a few families before he was dumped at the shelter where we found him at 6 months old. How on earth no-one wanted him is an absolute mystery, but i am thankful he found us. He's the most gentle, loving, relaxed, sensitive dog i've ever known. A little spoilt you might say but he deserves every single bit of it. He has a little mention on the Success Stories page if you're interested.

Alfie is best described as chilled out. My dad describes him to people as a doggie hippie - he doesn't sit next to you, he leans on you, falls on you, rests on you. He believed whole heartedly that all 30kg of him fits perfectly on your lap. He puts up with his little sister Jersey biting his ankles and hanging off his ears constantly and it does not bother him one single bit. He waits until Aidan's turned the lights off to creep ovr to my side of the bed and silently rest his chin on my pillow and then slowly pull himself up. He eats off a fork in a much more civilised manner than most people i know! He has had my camera in his face for most of his life & is the single best model i've ever had the pleasure of photographing x

Alfie-woo you are everything we could have ever asked for in our first born & we love you more than i think you, or anyone could possibly understand. Happy 2 years at home baby boy xxx