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SOLO (On Tenterhooks)
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This is Solo
Solo was Mum’s dog and he was a real character. He was a television addict. He especially liked watching athletics and particularly liked Linford Christie. Whenever Linford was running, Solo would be glued to the box, and would crouch down while Linford was on the blocks, and when the gun went off, Solo would nearly go through the screen. He got very annoyed if there was a false start. Mum enrolled Solo in the Linford Christie fan club and they said that he was the only member who could run faster than Linford! One time, it was Christmas, we were watching the film 'Down and Out in Beverley Hills'. Solo was enjoying it because there was a nice Border Collie in it, but we got bored with it and turned over to another channel. Solo looked round at us in disgust, went and got the remote control from the arm of the chair, dropped it on the floor and stood on it until the TV had changed back to his film! We watched in amazement, but that wasn't all. He then picked up the remote control, and dropped it in the dog-water bowl, gave a grunt of satisfaction and settled back in front of the TV. We then spent an hour
trying to dry the remote control with a hairdryer. That is the honest truth. |
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One of his favourites was a Benji film. There was one particular scene where Benji was being chased by a wolf. Solo would get very excited during this scene and bounce up and down, squeaking, but every time there was a close up of the wolf, Solo would snarl and growl at him. It was hilarious to watch. |
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Solo did a sponsored telly-watch for the ITV Telethon. He watched the television at Gravesend Dog Training Club for 3 hours, whilst the training went on around him, and then went home and watched an hour of snooker before he went to bed. He raised over £300 on that occasion, and got his picture on the front page of the local newspaper. He then did another 1-hour sponsored telly-watch at Ditton Dog Training Club, when Eileen Farn’s friends were collecting for her electric wheelchair. This time he raised £60. When Solo was 5, he developed a mammary tumour, which is very rare in males. He had the tumour removed and had regular scans to check if the cancer had spread but it seemed to have been contained in the tumour. Sadly Solo died when he was 6, from peritonitis, caused by a burst stomach ulcer. He'd been losing weight and the vet was doing tests to find out why. Solo must have been in pain with a stomach ulcer but he never let on. Once the ulcer burst, it took him within hours. He didn't stand a chance. Ironically he was due for a cancer scan the following week, which may have detected the ulcer. Solo was a totally unique dog who will never be forgotten by anyone that knew him. (By the way, for anyone that doesn't know Sealight breeding, the picture of the pup above is Solo. All Sealights are born very dark, and gradually the head turns a beautiful gold colour).
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Solo was bred by Anne Strachan, and was born on Remembrance Day in November 1987, which was very apt, as he was a dog that will never be forgotten by anyone that knew him. He was half Sealight/half Exchange & Mart!
Every Christmas, all the other dogs got squeaky toys but Solo got a video, and as soon as he unwrapped it, he'd know what it was and he'd run over the television yelping with delight. 
