Frisey rider roars off with a trophy
It’s time to meet another winner of the Mirror
People’s Pet Awards with Webbox. Our team went through thousands of nominations to produce a shortlist for the judging panel who chose which incredible animals and animal lovers should receive a trophy. We’ll be revealing them every week on this page – today it’s Motorbike Milly, winner of our Webbox Joy of Pets award..
She’s gained an army of fans online as she takes to the road in her leathers – but Motorbike Milly is much more than your average social-media sensation.
The fun-loving bichon frise, who sports goggles and her very own customised helmet while she’s out on the roads, is the life-changing companion of owner Paul Crossan who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis more than 10 years ago.
After being medically retired from his job as a plumber a few years later, the dad-of-two was keen to find a canine companion to take on camper-van road trips.
“I already had two dogs, but they hated travelling and even getting in the car,” says Paul, 46, of Glasgow.
“So I thought I would get another dog who’ll actually want to come with me.”
Visiting a local rescue centre in 2016, Paul fell for Milly the moment he met her.
“The lady at the rescue took me up to meet her and told me she had attachment issues,” he says. “She said Milly would need someone to be with her all the time, and given my circumstances that suited me perfectly.”
Before long, Paul and Milly were heading off on trips – and then Paul decided to see how his pet would fare on the motorbike he bought after retiring. “I thought I’d just buy the gear for her and see how she gets on. She took to it really quickly. People often ask how I trained her, but the truth is she just did it.
“Because of her issues, she wants to be with someone all the time – so if I’m on the bike she’s happy to be there too.”
Sharing pictures and videos online of their motorbike adventures, Paul was stunned to see Milly’s fanbase grow and grow.
The pair’s “Motorbike Milly” Facebook page now has more than 150,000 followers while their posts on Tiktok have had more than three million likes. “People just fell in love with her,” says Paul.
“I think they love to see what Milly’s up to and they like the novelty of the helmet that I made for her.
“There’s a small amount of padding in there, but it’s mainly to protect her from the weather and to keep her face safe from stone chips.”
The adventurous pair regularly ride out from Glasgow into the Scottish countryside and have even completed the scenic North Coast 500 a number of times.
As well as providing companionship for Paul, nine-year-old Milly has made visits to a local children’s hospice and care homes.
“She’s a fantastic little dog,” says Paul. “She’s everything to me really, and she’s with me almost every minute of every day.
“Aside from my wife Lynne and my two sons, she means more to me than most folk on this earth.
“I’m over the moon that she’s won the Webbox Joy of Pets award in the People’s Pet Awards because she really has made a massive difference to my life. It’s Milly’s first trophy, and we’re chuffed to bits that she’s had such lovely recognition.”