Agilitynet
Dog of the Year 2009
 Spud
(Golden Wunda Spud Noworries) was picked up as a stay in Southern Ireland. He was found roaming
the streets trying to pick up any small morsel of food he could find and taken to the local
pound by the dog warden but never claimed. As soon as Linda Cummings saw Spud on Agilitynet,
it was love at first sight. This year
Spud won the DARL Agilitynet Rescue Me Award with a stunning 2577 points. That was 1459 more
than the 2nd place dog.
Luckily the local council worked in partnership with a rescue centre in the area, Dungarven
Rescue Centre, so Spud was taken there along with another little chap. They were taken over to
Hope Rescue in Wales to be re-homed. Spud soon became quite a little star with the volunteers
as he just has the perfect nature. You can't help but love this little man.
Spud
was put out into a foster home in Sheffield and advertised on the Rescue page of Agilitynet for
re-homing, and so the story begins.
One
look and it was decided. I was having Spud. It was non-negotiable. Arrangements were made and
off we went to Sheffield to pick our handsome little chap up from Julie who was fostering him.
He was
lively, active, cheeky - a little pocket rocket with only two speeds... asleep or manic!
 Once
home we introduced Spud to the rest of the gang. He is just so biddable that our other eight
dogs took to him straight away. He soon became used to his new environment and decided he was
sleeping next to me in bed - and has done every night since. Sorry, Sweep.
We
took Spud to the vet we use in Durham to get him checked over as he has a peculiar gait. After
examining Spud the vet felt that he has shown significant trauma either hit by a car or kicked
as he has restricted movement in his right shoulder due to a badly healed break and his back
right leg is deformed where it has been broken and left to heal. He also has a scar on the
right side of his head.
We
asked the vet if Spud was in any pain? Could we do anything to fix his legs? The vet felt that
Spud was fine and in no pain but there was little we could do for his shoulder and leg. He
seemed quite happy in himself. We asked would he be able to do agility. The vet replied there
is no reason why he couldn't try it.
Spud absolutely loved agility
He has such an attitude which is really nice to see. As his confidence grew and grew, he went
from Grade 3 to Grade 7 in just seven months. He is a confident little chap now and thinks
nothing of letting me know half way round a course if I’m not quick enough with my commands. By
that time I've lost the plot anyway!
I love
all my dogs dearly, but Spud will always have a very special place in my heart. He is such a
genuine, gentle, kind little soul and I hope all his memories are only good, loving ones.
| 
