He lies, along with his three companions at the foot of a most impressive monument.
Let's have a closer look.
Oh I am so grateful to Elizabeth Crombie Duthie.
Just imagine, without her generous and far-sighted gift, I and so many other local dogs would not be enjoying daily walks Duthie Park, a wonderful green space not far from our home in the city.
What do we know about Miss Duthie? (Quickly consults Wikipedia...)
It seems that she was a member of an affluent local shipbuilding family, yes you've guessed it, the Duthies. She purchased the 42 acre site in 1881 and gave it to the Aberdeen City Council, for the enjoyment of the local people.
I expect you are wondering why I am telling you this.
I am aware that not all of my readers closely follow Aberdeen's politics and affairs.
Well I want you to know that I am not at all against the idea of rich folk using their wealth for the public good.
But for sure I am still bouncing for joy at the news that last month our councillors decided to reject an offer of £50 million from Aberdeen oil billionaire Sir Ian Wood. This money was to part fund a huge vanity project in another part of town, to build a so-called 'City Garden' - actually mostly concrete and totally at odds with the character and heritage of our central Aberdeen - which would have left our local government even further mired in debt than it is already.
Yes you're right, well remembered, I've blogged about this long running controversy before (see 'A visit to Union Terrace Gardens').
Well Sir Ian Wood - who is a bit miffed, to say the least, that his apparently generous donation has been rejected - let me set you a challenge.
You are without doubt a smart and determined chappie, and your entrepreneurial energy has helped bring prosperity to Aberdeen. So I'm sure that if you set your mind to it, you could come up with a plan to spend your money in a way that would bring as much pleasure to as many citizens of Aberdeen (and their dogs) as has Elizabeth Duthie's wonderful Victorian park. And then I promise you I'll be barking my support so loud you'll hear me all the way from Union Terrace Gardens to the Wood Group operations in New Plymouth, New Zealand. (I consulted the company website, and that was the furthest office from the UK shown on their map.)
