Paddy the pooch is claiming to be Britain’s oldest dog as he prepares to celebrate his TWENTY-FIRST birthday.
That will make the rescued cross-breed terrier almost 100 in human years.
Experts say Paddy is the equivalent age of a 97-year-old human – the same as Hollywood star Kirk Douglas, who was born in 1916 (the seven years to every one year ratio isn’t accurate for every dog).
When the cheeky chappy was picked from Manchester and Cheshire Dogs’ Home by owner Darren Duffy, 41, in June 1997, keepers explained that they had no information on Paddy apart from the fact that he was two years old.
But in that same year when he was taken to vets for a routine check-up Darren was shocked to discover his new pet was actually FOUR years old – making him born in 1993.
BEST PALS: Darren and PAddy are inseparable (picture via Cavendish Press)
Now Darren and Paddy are inseparable, often going on long hillside walks in the Lake District together until just a few years ago when the dog’s old legs began to get the better of him.
Bachelor Darren, a print operator, who lives alone with Paddy, in Eccles said: “When I moved into my house I decided I wanted a pet.
A DOG’S LIFE: Paddy relaxes in the sun (picture via Cavendish Press)
”I went straight to the dogs’ home and saw this dog looking a bit sorry for himself. I can’t think what it was that made me pick him. He seemed to look at me and say ‘take me home’, so I did.
“When I took him back I began to realise he had been treated badly like a lot of dogs are.
”He was even sick in the car on the way home. He was aggressive to other dogs at the start which must have been due to the way he was brought up but I got him out of that with a bit of training.”
Elder statesdog Paddy, who is now deaf and suffers with arthritis, still enjoys going on short walks and guarding Darren’s house with his formidable bark ahead of his milestone birthday in June.
SHOW US THOSE PUPPY DOG EYES! Paddy never fails to melt hearts (picture via Cavendish Press)
But it’s harder to keep him away from the postie and passing cyclists as he can only respond to hand signals commands.
“Even now he jumps up at the window if the postman or guests knock at the door,” said Darren.
“When I’m there he doesn’t do it so much, but if I’ve been to work I’ll come back and see the scratches from where he’s been jumping.
“He’s always been cheeky. He’ll eat anything. I remember when I hadn’t had him long and I came in from a night out and I had a curry with me.
”I left myself three nice bits of chicken tikka on the plate and went to the kitchen to get a drink and came back and it was gone.
“Because I was a bit tipsy I thought I had eaten it. But then I looked at him and he had a guilty face which sort of said ‘I did have that chicken.'”
STRIKE A POSE, PADDY: He stares into the middle distance a la Ryan Gosling (picture via Cavendish Press)
With the elder generations always hardest to buy presents for, Darren already knows what he’ll surprise Paddy with on his big birthday.
He added: “He’s a bit sedentary now – all he wants to do is sleep so I’ll be getting him a new posh bed for him to relax in.
“I’ll get him a doggy birthday cake and some nice treats and that should keep him happy.
“He was my first-ever pet and we are best mates. I don’t know what I would do without him.”
Story via Cavendish Press.
