My Story So Far

I was planned you know, quite a time before my grand entrance, before I was even a twinkle in my mother's eye. I graced the world with my presence on the 3rd September 2000. A millennium baby! My name is Dalnarck Escamillo also known as Milo, which I much prefer, a Neapolitan Blue Mastiff.

Let me tell you about my character, I am a very independent, loving and caring dog; with a lumbering gait and sad eyes. I manage to make everyone with whom I come into contact a little happier for having met me. From very early in my puppyhood I was told that I was to be a show dog. But, hey, I was only a puppy. I wanted to experience all walks of life. I don't know, I just thought I might have an opinion regarding my future. I hadn't decided what I wanted to do. I had my whole life ahead of me.

It was indeed at very young age that I started in show business, still a baby really; better known to my first mum and dad, Anita & Rick, as Smiley Miley! I won awards here and there, but something was not quite right. I just could not put my paw on it, and then it happened, a very unfortunate incident, an unforgettable life changing experience. It was at one of the shows I had been entered in, it turned out to be the worst show I ever did. The judge, not exactly a compassionate man started to prod and pull at me. Now come on really, how would you like it if someone started prodding and pulling at you? I decided I had had enough and unfortunately that decision resulted in me never entering the ring again.

Was I unhappy? About that yes, for Anita & Rick, the people that had worked so hard for me but not unhappy in the fact that this is not what I wanted to do with my life. My heart just wasn't in it. My next job was to be used as a stud, I know, quite a nice job to have really, knowing that there are 'mini-me's' all over the place! Even though being a stud dog had certain perks I had still not realised my dreams. I just didn't know how I was going to do something with my life, I had dreams of doing something completely new and different, and one of these dreams was of helping others but just didn't know how.

Then almost by magic one of my dreams was to come true. My mum had received a call from a family that had recently lost a Neapolitan rather suddenly and they were devastated and looking for ME! I met my wonderful, precious, best in the whole wide world family. Not that I am biased at all. They are the 'Wright Family' yes the right family. Was this the path I should take? Was this what I had been waiting for? My big break, finally. Yes, I can honestly say this is what I had dreamed for, this is where my heart belongs, a member of a family with two wonderful little girls to protect.

At first it was hard getting used to being in a house. I had been in a kennel for most of my life and had no idea how to be a family dog. I remember a time when I had to go to the vets, one of those decisions that would enhance my life? Loosing my manhood! What this meant I was to find out. The Vets was a new environment I didn't know or recognise and I was frightened. My dad and mum left me with these strange people who did not seem to understand that I was frightened. It was then that I found out what losing my manhood was all about and I was started to panic, the vet could not calm me down, I saw the fear in his eyes and because of my size I think he feared I might attack him. He wasn't Dr Doolittle and I was unable to make myself understood! They put in a kennel. They had been asked whether they wanted my dad to stay but no they knew what they were doing. I was quite astonished that they were actually allowed to work with animals. I wanted my mum and dad to come back and tell me that everything was going to be ok. When they arrived my mum looked so upset because I hadn't realised what the kennel sign had said about me. It was written in red and said, wait for it 'EVIL'. I was so hurt and upset I thought I had done something wrong, I wasn't evil, and I was scared just like you would be in the same situation.

When you receive as much love and patience from people who love you it changes you and you learn to give it back. I learned to be a family dog, I even get on with Princess, the cat, yes, I said cat. She's lovely really, a part of my family. My dad, Paul Wright, used to take me out early in the morning so I could get used to traffic noises and all sorts of unusual things, I had no idea about. It didn't take me long and now I take dad out for a walk to make sure he gets his regular daily exercise. My other responsibilities include taking the girls (Alice & Ella) to school and picking them up, I love it because I am the centre of attention with the children bombarding me from every direction. It means so much to me. Talking about the girls they are my best friends. I found out that best friends have duties. These duties consist of staying still while being dressed up and having my ears painted pink. Yes I know I love it really. I am a very playful dog and have my own selection of toys, my favourite being my rabbit (don't worry it's not a real one!). I also have a sweet tooth for ice cream and it has to be ice cream on a cone. Mmm, it makes my mouth water even thinking about it.

Which leads me on to tell you about my mum, Patricia Wright. Don't mention drooling or shoe laces in front of her or she'll be chasing me round with a towel. I must admit that sometimes I like to leave a certain smell about the room, and I do snore occasionally but hey whose perfect. I spend most of the day with mum helping her around the house. I especially like it when she does the hoovering because it means I get a good hoover too kind of like a massage. I even help out in the garden; mum seems to like hoovering the grass too, sitting on some sort of grass hoover or is it a tractor lawn mower that she has to ride on and I follow her just in case she misses a bit. I have a grooming routine, which means the towel comes out 24/7, I love having my bath, when I shake though be warned stand back unless you want a shower. I am a very proud dog and like to look my best at all times and this includes my C-Canine dog finishing spray.

In March 2004 I decided to take up another career move, one that I would enjoy and I know I would be good at. I became a PAT dog. In November of the previous year at Discover Dogs 2003 I was giving information about my breed with my family, when a nice man came up to us with his son. I could sense that this boy was special, he couldn't use his eyes; he was blind. I stayed still so that his dad could let him stroke my head. I let him feel my wrinkles and my smooth ears, which I am very proud of. I saw that what I had done had filled the dad and his son with happiness and it made me happy knowing that this is what I wanted to do. Make people happy. I knew that I had something to offer to others and my mum agreed. I am now a member of Pets As Therapy. It involves my mum taking me to visit different people in a hospice, a day hospital and a residential home. I have met a number of people whom I am glad to help out. One lady I remember said to me that she knew me from school. I was an old friend of hers. I am glad that she was happy thinking that I was her friend from school because she seemed to just glow when she spoke to me (you see I had the same name as a boyfriend from long ago). Seeing that glow in people makes my job worth while.

My life now is about making a difference! I regularly attend fundraising events where I meet even more people. One little boy came up to me and gave me a kiss and asked whether I could sit on his lap, my mum told him I couldn't because I am a little large, 'big-boned' is what I like to say (12 stone of dog actually). A friend of mums asked the little boy to wait a minute and she came out with a puppy, its hard to think I actually looked like that, she placed this rather cute (not as cute as me) little puppy on his lap. The little boy turned around and said no I want Milo on my lap, everybody laughed. I was blushing because the little boy preferred me to that puppy.

At one event my friends and I helped raise £500.00 in four hours. Something I enjoyed achieving. It's what I do and my hearts definitely in it. Not that I'm boasting but I have the X-factor, there's no doubt if I had the time I would be there showing Simon Cowell what he's been missing. To prove I have the X-factor, in October I won the award for Up and Coming PAT Dog 2004/2005. I was given this award for making a difference to people in the community in such a short time (7 months). When I walk down the road people just have to stop and look at me. People are very inquisitive about me, and I just love to make them smile.

I like to think that making people smile is my special talent and it is because of my family that I am able to do so, so I must say thank you. I am very proud to be the only Neapolitan Mastiff PAT dog, and to be making a difference to so many people. I am not evil, I'm unbelievable, to have come this far in such a short time. I love my family, my job and I love being me. Thank you to everyone who believes in me. I am a very able showstopper and I hope you think so too.

(Beautifully written by Rebecca Dean, Trish's niece.)