A GREEDY dog who was too much of a ‘character’ to qualify as a guide dog has made yet another visit to a Winsford vet after eating part of a walking stick.

Denning the three-year-old Golden Retriever is no stranger to staff at Winsford Veterinary Surgery, already snaffling his way through two pairs of spectacles and countless pens in the space of just 18 months.

His latest inedible snack was part of a plastic walking stick that got wedged in his stomach, leaving him needing surgery at the Willows Vet Group practice.

Yvonne and Jeff Daulby from Winsford took on Denning after he was constantly being passed from home to home since failing to make the grade as a guide dog.

Grandmother Yvonne said despite keeping them on their toes with his costly escapades, Denning is a ‘beautiful dog with a beautiful nature’.

She said: "Denning initially started his life as a guide dog puppy, bred by Guide Dogs for the Blind.

"It was during Covid so when it came to training, they only took the most responsive pups that they knew they could train quickly.

"Denning is not responsive and they knew it was going to take a lot of work, he just didn't have what it takes."

Denning was put up for rehoming and previously had 10 placements, but kept being brought back to kennels, once within 24 hours.

He picked up some bad habits – the two main ones being scavenging and swallowing things he shouldn't.

Yvonne recalled a trip to the Lake District last year where Denning spent three days on a drip after getting hold of Jeff's medication spray from the cupboard.

"He was very lucky to survive," Yvonne said.

"More recently, my husband had a new walking stick and as he was altering the height, he dropped the fitting and before we knew it, Denning swallowed it and he ended up having extensive surgery.”

Northwich Guardian: An x-ray shows the piece of walking stick lodged in Denning’s stomachAn x-ray shows the piece of walking stick lodged in Denning’s stomach

Vet Olivia Antony who has worked for the Willows Group for almost two years, said Denning was hospitalised for a few days after surgery but is now back to his happy self.

She added: "If pets do eat anything they shouldn't, owners should always let their vets know sooner rather than later.

"We'd always much rather people call, we know sometimes people may be embarrassed or worry about being judged, but we'd prefer people to tell us what their pets have eaten so we can advise best from there and prevent complications due to a delay.”

Yvonne is now in the process of seeking help from a pet behaviourist.