Penny was a labrador who came to the family as a replacement for Sheena, in 1987.  The picture below shoes her as a puppy, playing with sally.  In contrast to Sheena, who was a   reserved character, Penny was very outgoing and certainly wasn't frightened of the formidable Sally!

 

As she grew up from being a puppy, Penny developed a very strong personality.  One of her favourite treats was to be allowed to walk herself home during the last part of her morning walk.  She held her own lead, and took herself home!

 

Like Sheena, Penny was also a very enthusiastic chaser of balls and other objects.  She also had some bad habits as well.  Once, when sitting in the back of the car, she managed to eat her lead - leading my parents to wonder what on earth had happened to the lead.  Eventually they guessed that she must have eaten it, and took her to the vet, where a good dose of washing soda brought the lead (in bits) back to the surface!!

 

Penny also had the cheek of the devil.  She got away with many acts that would have got many other dogs into trouble with their owners.  Look at the picture below: who could possibly throw a dog off the chair with a facial expression like that!!

 

Penny's demise was a sad one (but then, aren't they all?).  On holiday in Exmoor, Penny was taken ill, and had to spend the whole week of the holiday at the vets with a tumour on her spleen.  This was successfully removed, and Penny was brought home.  However, the day after her return, she was taken ill again, and died at home, the wound having burst open again at some stage.  Penny died aged 13, probably the favourite dog ever to be owned by the family.