Sunday

My Sunday lie-in is rudely interrupted by four short, meaningful barks from the foot of the stairs. I scramble out of bed in a less than dignified fashion and take Isis into the garden in my dressing gown.

Our morning walk in Kings Heath Park is good. I give Isis her head and we scramble through thickets, under low branches and up steep slopes following little mammal trails and whiffs of anything which might possibly be edible.

This afternoon the Doggles arrive.

You may not have heard of Doggles. Nor had I until two months ago when I began researching eye protection for dogs sensitive to light. I hate the idea of dressing up animals, making them in any way less than themselves. I don’t have ambitions for Isis to be the coolest dude on the block.

So I thought about the Doggles for a long time. Because bright light is so distressing for poor Isis I eventually decided that we must try them.

They fit perfectly and are very easy to put on. Isis, naturally, tries to paw them off. I will pop them on her for a few seconds longer tomorrow and simultaneously feed her cheese.

It will be wonderful if she can tolerate them and they make bright conditions less stressful for her.

Isis came from the Aeza cat and dog rescue and adoption centre in Aljezur, Portugal. For information about adopting an animal from the centre, contact kerry@aeza.org or  www.dogwatchuk.com