The Harvey family with Sully and his LEGO alter ego
One year old Sully was voted the nation’s top dog for helping a family deal with life changing tragedy and was nominated by eight year old Ella Harvey.
Sully was joined by his owners, The Harvey Family, who credit their dog with bringing them closer together after dad, Gavin, lost both legs on a tour of duty in Afghanistan. The canine topped a nationwide search to find the country’s best pet friend and Ella was overjoyed to see her puppy pal honoured with his very own LEGO model in the LEGO Friends Heartlake City area of the world famous destination.
Ella’s mum Kerry explained how Sully has helped The Harvey’s over some dark times. “There’s so much physically that we cannot do as a family since Gavin was injured and Sully helps us bridge that activity gap.
“In fact, that’s really the reason we got him. But as well as keeping us active he’s forged a very special relationship with Ella. They truly are best friends and when we do have down days, as we still do, he brightens things up for Ella and her little sister Millie. They are both crazy for animals AND massive LEGO Friends fans so for Sully to be made in LEGO for the LEGO Friends area is beyond exciting for them!”
The playful spaniel took a keen interest in his LEGO double, which took a Model Maker 11 days to create from 6,255 individual bricks. The 67cm tall model mirrors Sully’s unique brown and white markings including a distinctive heart shaped patch on his back. The model will now take up residence in the new LEGO Friends Heartlake City area at the LEGOLAND Windsor Resort.
The LEGOLAND Windsor Resort’s search for the nation’s best pet friend came off the back of a survey* revealing that one in six children said their animals were better friends than their human besties and Sully and Ella’s story struck a chord. “We asked the public to pick which pet deserved the title from a shortlist and Sully won hands down’, said PR Manager at the Resort, Lauren Moss.
“We know that children do have very special relationships with their pets, and that’s something we celebrate in our LEGO Friends area. We are delighted Sully will now take pride of place amongst the other LEGO pets in Heartlake City – he truly deserves it.”
Sully joins a lineup of LEGO models, including LEGO Friends pets Bella the pony, Felix the cat and Coco the puppy in the dedicated area which opened in May.