New posting days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Wednesday
The Hairy One is becoming increasingly playful. The landing is – or was – my last dumping ground for miscellaneous stuff on its way down stairs or awaiting banishment to the loft, or, I have to admit, just temporarily homeless. Now it’s Isis’s new playground. Sigh.
Just this week she’s added an early morning rampage on the landing to her repertoire. On her way to bed for a pre-get up snooze, she passes a happy twenty minutes or so flinging around anything she comes across, then brings one of my canvas boots into the bedroom for a kick around.
And her hunting games in the park are becoming increasingly complex. Now it’s not just running in loops, nose to the ground and pinning down her fantasised victim with her paws. Before she pounces, she folds herself up like a squashed accordion, as though she has just come face to face with a hungry boa constrictor. Then she opens out into a springy arc, simultaneously pouncing joyfully on her ‘prey’. At other times, just as she reaches the end of her scent trail and without any warning, she darts forwards or backwards or sideways after a new scent.
One day this week as we skirt the edge of the wooded area in Kings Heath Park, she sniffs intently at a mound of lime green moss. But her nose bounces up and down as though the moss is electrified. There is a snaky twig stuck in it. She draws back, approaches, draws back. Then, extending a paw she pats at it, jumping as it pops up. She spends several minutes smacking it, recoiling from it, smacking it again.
Are there snakes in Portugal?
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
Isis, my blind/deaf dog 
yes, there are little snakes here in Aljezur and probably Isis was used to them…my dog Dylan does the same…
I love your posts and love to know how sweet you are dealing with Isis and the progress she’s making with your help and persistence. Thanks for everything you do for her, I still remember the day when I found her here with a rope on her neck…xx Isabel
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yes, there are little snakes here in Aljezur and probably Isis was used to them…my dog Dylan does the same…
I love your posts and love to know how sweet you are dealing with Isis and the progress she’s making with your help and persistence. Thanks for everything you do for her, I still remember the day when I found her here with a rope on her neck…xx Isabel
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Thank you. I’m so glad that you found her.
It’s very interesting to know about the snakes. I’ve not seen a dog interacting with snakes – even stick snakes before!
It was fascinating to watch her.
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I would like to send you the photo of Isis when I found her but I can’t do it here, don’t know why…perhaps if you send me your email address? thanks
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Yes there are, although everyone tell us there are no poisonous snakes here. There are ladder snakes and grass snakes which we see from time to time.
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It sounds as though you don’t believe them! You’re right not to – I’ve just looked up dangerous snakes in Portugal and it says that the venomous Lataste snake will bite humans! Take care.
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It’s wonderful to hear that Isis is learning to relax and play, and just feel joy!
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Yes, it’s lovely to see her.
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This blog was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve
found something which helped me. Thanks a lot!
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That’s great.
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