Carrie Symonds has denied reports that the Jack Russell cross puppy which she adopted with Boris Johnson last year may be re-homed.
The Times reports that the dog, called Dilyn, has proved quite a “sickly animal” and may be booted out before Symonds gives birth to her first child with the prime minister in early summer.
The newspaper claims that the upheaval created by Dilyn’s arrival, combined with Johnson’s “own less than scrupulous house-keeping”, has created tensions.
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A Whitehall source is quoted as saying: “I’m not sure that dog is going to make it through the next reshuffle.”
But in a post on Twitter today, Symonds has dismissed the report as “a load of total crap” and “100% bs”.
“There has never been a happier, healthier and more loved dog than our Dilyn,” she wrote, adding: “The people behind this story should be ashamed of themselves.”
A Downing Street source also denied the claims, telling The Times yesterday that Dilyn was “great shape”. The insider added: “It’s completely untrue that there are plans for him to be re-homed.”
Dilyn was 15 weeks old when he moved to Downing Street last September from the Friends of Animals Wales shelter in Rhondda. He had been rescued after being abandoned by puppy farmers because he had a misaligned jaw.
Announcing the adoption, a No. 10 spokesperson said: “The prime minister has always been a passionate supporter of animal welfare and believes in giving animals the best start in life.”
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Symonds also tweeted about Dilyn’s arrival, writing : “Thanks to the wonderful Eileen who rescued Dilyn after she got a tip-off that he was to be dumped by a puppy dealer because he was born with a crooked jaw. Eileen fixed his little jaw and saved his life. She is a hero.”
The pup subsequently joined his owners on the election campaign trail wearing his own “Get Brexit Done” rosette, and has become something of a star on social media.
Dilyn gets regular mentions on Symonds’ social media feed, while a spoof Twitter account set up in his name has attracted more than 4,500 followers.
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