Mirelle Radley had long planned a trip to South America in 2025 to escape her mundane 9-to-5 life. Four months before departure, she broke her back and feared cancellation, but she recovered. She expected breathtaking views and vibrant wildlife, but not falling in love with a fluffy-eared street dog. She spent four months battling bureaucracy and world travel to bring him home, and she would do it all over again.
In Ollantaytambo, a village in Peru's Sacred Valley, a small, skinny dog with adorable eyes appeared at her hammock. He was alone, surviving on scraps, but full of excitement. He followed her everywhere and slept outside her room, deciding that wherever she was, he wanted to be. She named him Paddington after the famous bear, nicknamed Paddy. He had golden eyes, black and tan fur, and half-flopped ears. He loved watching the world, but also had a feral goblin side, zooming with delight and roaring like a laughing bear. His joy for life made her realize he was special.
Before Paddy, Mirelle was stuck. After losing her brother to suicide years earlier, she felt forced back onto the hamster wheel of work. Although she went through the motions, few things made her feel alive. She felt trapped and purposeless. Then Paddy appeared, full of enthusiasm and zest, tipping her life upside down in the best way. He gave her courage to quit her job as a biotech scientist and change careers. She found purpose writing a book and working with a Peruvian rescue centre, Colitas Con Canas.
Adopting a dog from Peru involved red tape, language barriers, and mountains of paperwork. On the way to the UK, they almost got stuck in Colombia and were held up in France for several days to fix paperwork. The support Paddy amassed on Instagram allowed Mirelle to help rescue other dogs from Peru and relocate them to Europe. Most importantly, she now always has her best friend by her side on adventures.
