A Dogs Funeral; Tribute To a Good Companion

Northern Advocate, 18 July 1939, Page 6

A Dogs Funeral; Tribute To a Good Companion

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] WELLINGTON, This Day.

In Wellington yesterday one of the strangest funerals ever held in the city took place. The body in the coffin was that of a dog known as ‘‘Paddy the Wanderer," or “The Irish Flying Dutchman,” who haunted the Wellington wharves and travelled on many New Zealand and overseas ships. The brown Irish terrier had thousands of friends among seamen, waterside workers and taxi-drivers, and the funeral was no mock affair. It was a touching tribute to a good companion. Ever since people can remember him, Paddy was gripped by wanderlust. By air, land and sea, in the past ten or twelve years, he had travelled all round the New Zealand coast, and to many inland towns.

He was the one stowaway who was greeted cheerfully whenever he came aboard. Friends in Need. Once the dog-catchers caught Paddy in an unguarded moment, but the taxi-drivers clubbed together, paid his license fee, and guaranteed his future. Paddy was stated to be of outstanding intelligence, and he knew traffic lights, refusing to cross the street until the green light showed. He was well-known to Wellington traffic officers. Paddy became ill about two weeks ago, and was sent to a home for dogs. However, he started to fret, and he was moved back to the wharves, and loolc refuge in one of the sheds. However, although he was attended by a veterinary surgeon, nothing could be done for him.