I adopted Alfred from the RSPCA on 1st July 2006, I always joke that he choose me, because as soon as I walked in, I knew he was the one for me.
He’d been at the RSPCA for some time as he’d been found in a very poor condition, so poor that he was nearly euthanised, he was also riddled with mites, and still had plums!
The RSPCA had originally named him TJ, but I felt that wasn’t suited to him so renamed him Wizard, then as I watched him over the next few days - he had a hutch with a ramp onto an enclosed area of grass - he wouldn’t venture down the ramp for 24 hours, so I decided Wizard wasn’t quite right either, and then Alfred came to me, which suits him very well.
I tried a few times to get him a wife, but he wouldn’t settle with them and was quite aggressive, so he was separated and temporarily moved into the house.
I was worried be might be frightened, so I decided to sleep in the lounge that first night, then I could keep an eye on him. Alfred then woke me up at 3am sat on my pillow nuzzling my face, I decided he seemed to like it here.
Alfred loved running round the lounge darting from one sofa to the other, binkying in between, and then sitting next to me for cuddles when he’d had enough – or taking up his favorite place stretched out in front of the fire.
He’s at least 7 now, so he doesn’t party like he used to, but he still likes to run around and does little leaps into the air when he gets excited.
Alfred has also trained me well, no matter how deeply he appears to be asleep, he can hear the fridge door open, which means Alfred must have a treat.
Meal time should also be adhered to, and lateness is reprimanded by a quick nip to the ankles, before dashing off to rattle his feed dish.
Alfred has a lovely character, and enjoys being stroked and cuddled, he did give me a bad scare a couple of years ago when he had an abscess in his jaw resulting in one of his teeth being removed, the treatment was intensive and after his surgery he had to go back for injections every other day for 4 weeks. He also couldn’t eat hay for some time, so he was on 4 hourly feeds for 4 weeks too, I was delighted when he made a full recovery, and also quite pleased to switch off my 4am alarm too!
Alfred also views the rug by the fire as “his”, once I had a friend round for a jam, and my friend put his bass guitar down on the rug, Alfred objected to this, sank his teeth into the head of the bass, and attempted to drag it across the floor!
I saved the bass, and luckily my friend decided the teeth marks gave it added mojo!
Alfred in his favorite spot
Don't forget we like to see photos too 
Neither of us were really in a position to take him on but we decided he needed a bit of tlc so decided we would share his care and vet fees, since rehoming a black elderly dental bun with mis-shapen back legs/hip who was aggressive, partially blind and had snuffles proved impossible.
-and he hated men. Gradually he became more friendly as he learned we only want to help him.
