THE dog that inspired the alias for one of the most prominent pro-independence Scottish bloggers and columnists has passed away.

Paul Kavanagh, author of the Wee Ginger Dug blog, suffered a severe stroke last week.

From his sick bed in hospital, Paul has had to announce that the Wee Ginger Dug has passed away.

Paul, who was born in the East End of Glasgow in 1962, rescued the dog after he was abandoned in Valencia in Spain in 2007, with the Wee Ginger Dug himself becoming the star of many Yes movement rallies and meetings.

He was put to sleep after his vet said nothing more could be done to help a very sick and pain-racked dog who was riddled with arthritis.

The cruel timing of his loss has deeply upset Paul, who said: “I wasn’t surprised, to be honest.

“He had been declining for a while and it was always a nightmare trying to get medication into him as he was always fussy about his food.

“In the days before I went into hospital he just stopped eating, and then he just went into a downward spiral, and he couldn’t stand anybody touching him on the hips because they were so painful.

“He was obviously in a lot of pain and then he couldn’t even stand up.”

Paul’s husband Peter Bellefleur was with Ginger when he was put to sleep – “he knew that he was loved,” said Paul.

Glasgow Times: Paul Kavanagh and the Wee Ginger Dug with our editor Callum Baird Paul Kavanagh and the Wee Ginger Dug with our editor Callum Baird

Ginger came to Paul and his then partner Andy when they were living in Spain.

After seeing a dog up for adoption that matched one Andy had seen in a dream, they travelled to Elche to pick Ginger up.

Ginger came to Scotland when Paul and Andy moved here with Andy suffering dementia, from which he died in 2014.

“Ginger was a lifesaver for me,” said Paul. “I honestly think Andy sent him to me.”

A crowdfunder is under way to help Paul’s rehab. Donate here