In 2006, Kerry Irving was seriously injured in a traffic accident and suffered chronic pain. He was unable to walk and was diagnosed with severe depression. But in 2008, his life changed when he adopted his Springer Spaniel Max.
Max became a social media super star when his owner started posting regular photos and updates about how Max turned his life around with his companionship and unconditional love and support.
During the pandemic, Kerry and Max broadcast their daily walks and antics – and along with his ‘brothers’ Paddy and Harry, hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world joined them virtually, providing them, too, with essential support and comfort during lockdown.
Max became the world’s virtual therapy dog and went on to make public appearances, visits to schools and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities, including PDSA. He now even has royal connections, having met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Kensington Palace! He is also the first ever pet to receive a PDSA Order of Merit.
Max not only helped his adopter Kerry Irving turn his life around, he also helped other people worldwide through incredibly dark times of isolation, grief, loneliness, anxiety and fear during lockdown.
In recognition, this famous four-legged hero has been honoured with a bronze statue in his likeness, which sits on a bench in Hope Park in the Lake District so that all his fans for years to come can sit and have a cuddle with the loyal pooch.