Poor Patsy: Heroic third year with pet allergies kept stray dog after it followed her home

A lovely law student saved a lost puppy’s life after allowing it into her house when it followed her home, despite having pet allergies.

Abby Hayter, 20, was walking home from her 11 o’clock lecture when the unleashed four legged friend, called Patsy, decided to join her.

She said: “I was literally walking home and could see this tiny pooch walking by itself, I was really concerned, and then all of a sudden it was walking beside me.”

The Jack Russell continued to walk by her side from Shakespeare Street until the third year reached her front door – and the dog begged to be let in.

The third year said: “The dog followed me around every corner, I really tried to lose it. When I reached the house I felt obliged to let it in. I’m really allergic to dogs too.”

When arriving home Abby checked the pups red collar to discover Patsy’s owner’s details. The savvy student decided to call her owners.

The pooch did not paws before making herself at home in the four bed student house near the Arboretum.

She said: “My housemates were so happy to see a dog in the house, it was like Christmas all over again. But we all decided that we would be really sad if a bunch of students stole our pet.”

Housemate Abi Smith, a newspaper journalism finalist, rushed back from uni so she could meet the canine.

Ayesha Armstrong, Abby Hayter, Abi Smith and Zoe Archer

She said: “Once I knew there was a dog in the house I just needed to leave uni and meet her. I just couldn’t concentrate.

“We were so sad to see Patsy leave, but I felt like we’d done a really good deed by letting her in. Who knows what would have happened to her?”

After a quick stroke, the girls decided to contact the owners, who swiftly collected the pooch after saying she must have escaped out of their garden gate.

This isn’t the first time Abby has attracted a stray animal.

She said: “I’m beginning to worry, this isn’t the first time an animal has followed me home. Last year a cat would frequently follow me through my front door.

“What if next time a bigger animal, like a horse, ends up in my living room? Maybe I’m Nottingham’s answer to Dr Doolittle.”

Have you gained a pet whilst at uni? Email [email protected]