Zolton, Hound of Dracula

We don't have a dog as a companion. We have cats. So you can imagine my surprise on returning home late Sunday afternoon from hard graft at the allotment to find the missus entertaining what appeared to be a pup.

She had been clipping the front garden hedge. I could tell that from the mass of clippings on the pavement and the abandoned shears and step ladder. She was on the phone, and scampering all over the dining room was this brownish flash, with a wet black nose and waggily tail. I'm not sure what I thought at the time: I think it was to do with cats, safe and "What the F***".

Having finished the phone call to her sister, a rather breathless wife explained. She was clipping the hedge, up the ladder when this guy on a motor scooter drove up the road and stopped. He asked my wife if she wanted a puppy. She by now had clocked a large shopping bag in the well of the scooter which was wagging furiously. The helmeted person went on to explain that he had been kicked out of his digs and was homeless. He couldn't keep the dog.

My wife is the soul sister of St Francis of Assisi - any creature large or small is hers to care for, protect and feed. The guy got off the scooter, opened the shopping bag and out popped a very beautiful tan coloured young dog. The man handed the dog on the lead to the missus and drove off. The pup was called Rodney.

When I returned  'er in doors was on the phone to her sister. Her niece has a Rottweiller called Ruby. She is the most wonderful companion, a super family dog, affectionate and a gentle giant. All down to first class training and deep love. As a pup Ruby grew up with Clyde the mastiff, another gentle giant. Clyde moved away and Ruby pined.

The missus's sister had mused about getting a companion for Ruby, the phone call on Sunday afternoon was to suggest that the arrival of said pup might be the answer to Ruby's prayer. I was told to fire up the car as we were off to the sister's with pup. A match in heaven was in the making.

The wife, pup and I, after a short journey, arrived at sister's. All the family was there sister, husband, the two daughters and one of their boyfriends and Ruby the Rottweiller.  It was a slaughter. Pup had them drooling in no time. Ruby and Rodney hit it off straight away. First a get to know you bum sniff, then an ear inspection and they were best of chums.

I was suspicious of the supposed reason why the young man on the scooter had to get rid of the dog. In discussion with sister's family the breed of the pup was considered. The general consensus was that he was some sort of "Staffy". I suggested that Rodney might be a Rhodesian Ridgeback - a giant of a dog - and having discovered that the young man or more likely his parents decided they couldn't keep Rodders.

Rodney had a new home. With waggily tail and a yelp of joy he gamboled away with Ruby to join the pack of dog/humans.

Yesterday we expentantly waited on the call from sister. Rodders had finally settled down at 1 am, camping down on one of the daughter's bed. A trip to the vet and the little blighter received a clean bill of health and identification.

He's a Rhodesian Ridgeback/ Staffy cross.

Rodders has a loving home. Ruby a new companion and the family an amazing Mothering Sunday surprise.

'er in doors couldn't be happier.