NAMES IN THE NEWS : Spaniel Dines From Silver Plate

Staff at a plush restaurant found themselves serving turkey on a silver platter to a dog whose name was chosen in a raffle over hundreds of human contestants.

The cocker spaniel, appropriately named Lucky, was entered in the competition by his owner, Phyllis Walmsley of Shanklin, on the Isle of Wight, off England’s southern coast.

Hundreds of people entered the raffle organized by the 1st Shanklin Scouts group, but Lucky was the winner of the first prize of a Christmas meal at a top restaurant on the island.

Alan Priddle, owner of the Cottage Restaurant, said today that he settled Lucky down at a table with a platter of turkey Dec. 18. The restaurant owner skipped the potatoes and turnip.

“We thought we’d just stick to the meat,” Priddle said. “He ate all the turkey, yes.”

He added: “The dog was very well behaved. The only time he growled was when we tried to put a party hat on his head.”