06/02/2026
In a heartbreaking second hammer blow to me, mere days after my beloved Woody passed away, I learned that The Big Daft Orange Dog, Rhodi, has also passed away. He was super gentle and solidly protective with his humans, and made his family feel safe. I offer my deepest condolences to Katie and her family.
I walked Rhodi for many years. He was big, placid, and orange. I used to say it was like taking a Guernsey cow for a walk. Given his enormity he could have been a handful but be was an absolute sweetheart. The trouble always came from his little sister, Lola the French bulldog/pug cross who was, and no doubt remains, a tiny grey ball of seething anger.
I think I last walked Rhodi in June of last year on a sunny day up the footpath to the wind turbines, a favourite route of ours. My lasting memories of him will be the time he was walking with Katie in the field behind the pub and caught my scent far away on the opposite side of the field, broke free from her grip because he had to come and say hello to me, not realising the near-cardiac arrest that Katie was having, seeing her dog go tearing off towards some distant pedestrian. I think she aged a few months that day!
I’ll also remember his big dark eyes sparkling in the sunlight whenever I took his photo, and he waited patiently for a treat. RIP Rhodi, you were a very good boy.
