This Rescue Dog Is The Real Life Paddington Bear
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Featured Image Credit: SWNS
A dog who was rescued and adopted after being found dumped in Ayr station has the sweet nickname 'Paddington Ayr'.
The pooch was found at the railway station in South Ayrshire along with his suitcase containing his toys, food, pillow and food bowl - just like the real life Paddington.
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The Shar-pei dog, Kai, is now living his best life with his new owner.
The pooch was taken there by his owner to meet a potential buyer, who decided not to purchase Kai when he didn't resemble the advert she'd seen online. But the seller ran off, leaving the woman with Kai, who also decided to leave him.
Luckily the SSPCA (Scotland's Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals) picked him up and took him in and it was at their rescue centre that his now owner Ian Russell fell in love with the pup.
The 56-year-old only went in to make a donation, but on seeing him his heart melted.
Russell said: "My dog had just died and at the time I didn't know what I was going to do.
"Someone sent me a picture of Kai sitting at the railway station and, like everybody else, I thought, 'That's such a shame, an absolute nightmare'.
"I went to put a donation into the SSPCA in Cardonald not thinking about taking him, I just wanted to put a donation in to support his care.
"They let me meet him and once I saw his wee face I wanted to help.
"I just wanted to give him a good home.
"He is such a beautiful dog, so gentle and a wee soul."
Within just weeks, Kai was re-homed with Russell, a hydraulics engineer.
Several years on from being found, Kai is now a bit of a local celebrity in Scotland, after news of his story travelled fast.
People actually come up to Russell and ask if he's the dog that was abandoned at the station.
Due to Russell's job he travels around the country, but Kai follows him everywhere.
"I have a mobile workshop," he said.
"He just sits in the van next to me, with the window open and he just sits and watches out the window.
"Everywhere I go Kai is there, and everyone recognises him and knows him.
"That's been many years now and he still gets recognised.
"His favourite thing to do is to go about the hills and mountains."
But he loves a bit of pampering too.
Russell added: "He knows basically he's a bit of a celebrity so when he meets people now he almost expects to get a wee treat or something.
"I have to rein him in a bit sometimes."
We think this sweet fur-baby deserves to be a bit demanding after his abandonment - thank goodness Russell came along.
Topics: Paddington, Dogs