Just recently, Caroline Bullock from Animals in Photos asked if I'd like to run a quick and easy mouth-swab DNA test on Eddie to determine his “roots”. I was intrigued and thought worth giving it a try – particularly as no one knows where Eddie originated from.

The first time we set eyes upon this scruffy, yellow dog was almost a decade ago now during an investigation of one of China’s notoriously cruel live animal markets in Guangzhou.

Caged and destined to be slaughtered for food, Eddie’s fate seemed sealed until we made a snap decision to buy him and bring him back to Hong Kong. Just a few minutes later, after bartering the trader down to 200 RMB we walked out of the market with this strange mixed-breed dog, who was seriously lucky to be alive.

Once out of quarantine, Eddie sailed through our Dr Dog animal-therapy exam with flying colours and became an ambassador for the miserable market dogs he’d left behind. More than that, for the past 10 years, Eddie has brought joy into my life and continues to make me laugh with an attitude every bit as large as the country from where he came.

When Caroline sent the results of the “Mutt Genie” DNA test, I laughed even more. Largely Pekingese – well what else could he be?

Nicknamed King Eddie by Marnie our Dr Dog manager and team, Eddie apparently hails from a breed that for centuries could only be owned by members of the Chinese Imperial Palace. These brave and fearless dogs were thought to have a heart so big that they could destroy the largest and fiercest demons during their role as “temple dogs”.

And of course the results of the test now all make sense and I think somehow, with his character, his kindness and his big brave heart, if not entirely his looks, his ancestors would be proud.