Thursday, June 19, 2008

Britain's Clumsiest Dog

Walks for Chester isn't so much a stroll in the park as a near-disaster waiting to happen.
The lurcher will more than likely get stuck down a rabbit hole, charge into a bench or – if he manages to avoid those – get a paw trapped in the car boot on the way home.
The 12-year-old has had nine operations because of his mishaps, having lost teeth, broken his tailbone and dislocated his shoulder.
Firefighters have even been called to free him after getting trapped.
'It all started on the day we got him,' said owner Jim, who got Chester from a rescue home in 2004. 'As soon as I saw him he ran straight at me. I shouted at him to stop but he crashed into me.'
The latest incident involved the careless canine being freed by firefighters when he got a paw stuck in a car boot after chasing his ball.
'Most of the time he'll end up falling down the stairs – he probably does it once a week,' added Jim, 50.
'He's like a toddler. 'He'll fall over and cry, so you'll give him a hug to make him feel better only for him to do it again.'
Chester's operations include life-saving surgery after he cut his stomach while jumping over a fence.
Luckily, the Dogs Trust – where Chester came from – help out with the bills because he had pre-existing medical conditions.
Jim, from Telford, Shropshire, blames an eyesight problem for the mishaps, while vets have said he suffers from a canine form of Alzheimer's disease.

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