Torteval Irish Wolfhounds

"My name is Boru. I was born in July 2004 and a handsome, brindle lad. I live with my adopted mum, Alison, and dad, Roy, and their daughter. I love walks in the large field near our house (unless a helicopter is passing over, which scares the living daylights out of me!) and chasing rabbits if I get the chance.

Mum couldn't understand why she kept finding mysterious objects in her fish pond until she caught me pushing things in with my paws . . . well, I wanted to see what would happen!

Dad says I'm a great help in the garden. He was pruning a tree so I helped by chewing off some branches and running away with them. And I thought Mum would like a new pond in the garden so I started to dig one of her, but then gave up to have a snooze. She is still waiting for the pond - it was just too much hard work.

As well as helicopters, I find motorbikes, skips and black plastic bins very scary - when the bin was rolling around in the wind I barked at it and ran back into the house to hide.

I have settled in well and have tried all the beds in the house. I like their daughter's bed best and nap on it when the cats aren't there. In fact, I'm off to have a snooze right now."

"Mum and Dad took me for a new walk the other day. I was really enjoying myself weeing up the lamp-posts, pillar boxes and trees . . . then a horrible smell hit me - no, not the vet's, please!! Anything but that! Dad had to pull me through the door. I sat on Dad's lap in the waiting room and a nice lady came out who I licked. Well, she was nice until she stuck a needle in my neck and made me yelp. Apparently I have now been microchipped, whatever that means. I only went in for some flea treatment, and Mum bought some big worming tablets (I refused to take them until I tricked her into putting them in a big bit of cheesy pizza, ha ha!)

Anyway, the vet said it would be a good idea to have me castrated - I have decided I don't like her after all. I mean, just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. I gave Mum a pleading stare - it must have worked because she told the vet she'd think about it first. I was weighed, and apparently I am 77 kilos. The vet said it was a very good weight. No, I'm not fat just big boned!!!"

"Mum and Dad took me to the vet's again the other day. I sat down, refused to go in and made Dad drag me in. Well, I wasn't going to do that needle thingy again. It's the last time I listen to Mum, too - she said everything would be all right - ha!

I had to have an ECG and it took three nurses and the vet to pin me down. It turns out I have got a funny ticker. Apparently, I have something called an ectopic heartbeat (I have got one extra beat). It's nothing too serious though, and it certainly hasn't stopped me chasing rabbits!"

"Mum took me to the local groomers - just filled in a form and handed me over! I was led away and taken out the back to be bathed. I decided it was much to cold for a bath and refused point blank to co-operate, so in the end they phoned mum up to come and collect me. Mum did look embarrassed when she arrived so I don't think she will try that one again. The only problem now is she has threatened to get the hose onto me during the summer. Why is there never a hose pipe ban when you need one?!!"