I haven't been on this website for a long time (it seems). For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of meeting or hearing about Dudley, I adopted him in February 2007. He was born during the Twin Tower bombings and had lived his first five years in a wire crate in Wellington. When he was registered with GSRT, Denise noticed he has one floppy ear and discovered he was from the same litter as her own Hogan (RIP ), who had two floppy ears and was a loveable giant. Dudley's name at the time was Lucky, which I changed as I didn't think he had been very lucky at all.

Dudley is like a big teddy bear. He loves cuddles and is wonderful with my two children and their friends - and will let anyone come up to the front door without so much as a friendly bark. This could have been extremely embarrassing on one occasion when I had just gotten out of the shower and was unaware of a workman who had come to the front door. When I finally saw him (fortunately I was dressed by then), I got a fright and all Dudley did was sit right up next to him as if to say "I've got a new friend!".

For a ten-year-old, Dudley certainly isn't slowing down at all and is only slightly grey around his muzzle. He is still somewhat fanatical about chocks of wood, which unfortunately for him aren't in such plentiful supply as when I was living in a house with a wood-burner. Instead, he resorts to bamboo sticks, cowhide chew-bones, or the nearest soft toy he can steal without a child attached. He also likes watching our pet rats when they're active in their cage (which has a fire guard around it for some reason!) and talks to our rabbit through the netting of her hutch (I wouldn't risk it without strict supervision, though).

Happy Birthday, Dufus, Duddles, Duds, Womble, DUDLEY! We love you very much!

I've run out of time to post a photo, will try later. Now I'm looking forward to February 2012, when I would've had Dudley in our family for five years - so he would've been half of his life out of that crate...

Hey Dudley dude happy bifday to ya me old mate. Me ma reckons your Ma gonna treat you right today and give you a yummy bifday tea. Good grub eh Youz so cool for an old fulla. Me sis Miss Frilly Knickers got all hot an bofered when she heard it was ya bifday. She sends very special bifday kisses and all that stuff

Have a good one
stay cool
Bond Zar 0700

Hey ya Duds hopes ya had a great day mate. Me and me sis Kailee wish a you a happy bday too. And a big happy bday to Hogan. We all miss him lots and lots and lots. Lubs and licks to ya all.

Me Ma went and saw Aunty D today. She's in hopital and Iz finks she is starting to get better a bit. Get better soon Aunty D we all miss ya. Big lub and lick to you too.

Lub Sasha 613 and me little sis Kailee 865
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I agree with Sasha, Aunty Neece, yu had betta get betta very soon so I can cum and see you. Mum sed I'm not allowd in tha hospitil. I no yu will be missing my brutha espeshly today, so Iym thinking licks and hugs for yu.

from your nephew, Dudley (#511) and my Mum, Alison xxx

Dudley went from this


to this:


...and the best I could get today was this: