This is the dog that literally ate Christmas after wolfing down his family’s fairy lights, advent calenders, wrapping, decorations, presents and even festive TREE.
Greedy English Bull Terrier Alfie gobbles anything when his owners’ backs are turned – and this year got stuck into all their festive treats.
He has already driven them barking mad by eating random items in the home including birth certificates, driving licences and even hair dryers.
But this year they discovered he had eaten and chewed their lights, decorations, an advent calender, present wrapping and even gnawed the leg off the tree.
Owner Amy Mallinder, 21, said: “He’s been busy this Christmas, but in the past he’s dined on two pairs of straighteners, a hair dryer, a de-humidifier, an extension lead and loves a plastic toy.
“He also finished off an advent calendar and destroyed my partner’s birth certificate and driving licence.”
Estate agent Amy is now contemplating dog-proofing her house, much in the same way a new parent will child-proof their home.
Exasperated Amy, of Wakefield, West Yorks., said: “Her just chews everything he get holds of, and he gets fed three big meal a day as well.”
Alfie’s exotic diet has, unsurprisingly, necessitated many shamefaced vets visits and he has been diagnosed with a heart condition an renal failure.
“Thankfully whatever he has eaten has made it’s way out by itself, by either end,” explained Amy.
She added: “Alfie is always up to something.
“I’ll never forget the look on my partner’s face when he found out Alfie had decided to eat not only his birth certificate but his driving licence too.”
Amy’s partner is 28-year-old vehicle spray technician Carl Roberts.
On a more sombre note, Amy said: “He was devastated when Alfie ate his birth certificate, his mum had just passed away and that was a document which she had signed.
“Despite his health problems I wouldn’t change him for the world. Alfie is part of the family.
“He could never ruin Christmas for us no matter what he eats, Carl’s mum used to look after him while he was out at work and she passed away on Christmas day in 2011, so there is a real personal connection with Alfie.”
Recent research now indicates the hound’s horrendous hunger might not entirely be his fault.
A study by The Co-op Insurance looked at thousands of claims and found that Alfie is the unluckiest dog name.
Other unlucky names include Charlie, Bella, Molly, Ruby, Max, Archie, Poppy, Rosie and Daisy.
The 10 unluckiest cat names were Oscar, George, Alfie, Charlie, Leo, Molly, Max, Leo, Molly, Max, Willow, Harry and Henry.
The study also found cat owners are most likely to claim for road traffic accidents and dog owners are most likely to claim for ear issues and lameness.
