100-year-old woman becomes Dogs Trust Manchester's oldest ever adopter

A 100-year-old woman from Stockport has adopted an 'Old Age Pooch' in need of a new home.

Staff at Dogs Trust Manchester were delighted when Marjorie Rigby and her daughter, Angela Bottomley, visited the Denton-based rehoming centre in search of a new companion.

They told the team they were looking for an older, small dog who was full of fun but enjoyed a cuddle and an afternoon snooze. Straight away staff knew they had the ideal canine companion - eleven-year-old Patterdale Terrier, Paddy.

Marjorie, who was born in Stockport and now lives in Dukinfield with Angela, says Paddy, who is 77 years old in dog years, has settled in perfectly and she can’t imagine life without him.

Marjorie says Paddy makes her laugh every day. Credit: Dogs Trust Manchester.
Stockport-born Majorie married Charlie just three days before the end of the Second World War. Credit: Marjorie Rigby.

During the Second World War, Marjorie was a plotter in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, taking information about enemy aircraft positions and plotting them on a map so that German raids could be monitored. Just three days before the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, Marjorie married Charlie, a Desert Rat, who passed away in 2004.

Marjorie and Angela had another rescue dog, Shadow, who died aged fifteen, as well as several cats and now Marjorie says she feels a house isn’t a home without a pet.

Dawn Bishop, Dogs Trust Manchester Manager, says:

To find out more about all the dogs still waiting for their forever homes, please visit Dogs Trust Manchester.

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