Posting days: Sunday and Wednesday and, sometimes, maybe, extra ‘news flashes’

Wednesday October 18th 2017

R and S, The Pet Angels, offer Isis a delightfully long walk to the park every weekday. And generally off she goes, happy tail floating just in sight until the pack turns the corner. It’s compulsory, of course, to have a long, intense sniff of our recycling bin, then the neighbours’ bin as we pass. There’s bound to be a fresh pee or two to check out.

As long as the sun behaves appropriately, Isis relishes her walks. Each morning, my first conscious action is to check the weather. If it’s cloudy, damp, threatening rain – wonderful! If the sun is streaming relentlessly onto the front of the house, or blinking like a lighthouse as the clouds puther by, there’s no chance.

On Monday I’m uncertain. It’s very strange outside, quite dark and heavy with a strong breeze. The sun is there but it’s a small blood red and orange disc. I text the Pet Angels. They say the light is very soft and it’s worth a try.

Sure enough they’re right, and off goes Isis, tail afloat. Being dogwise people they have sussed out her weird little ways, and decide that while Gilbert and George have wild, looping runs on the old bowling green, supervised by S, she can lead R off towards shrubberies and round the pond.

She has a brilliant walk. She sniffs under dozens of bushes, trots happily round the pond three times, popping over the low palings to follow little mammal trails, and then back again onto the path. When they reach the big field, without any warning, she takes off for a good gallop, compelling R to race behind her. Rude animal.

Back home, she has a brief nap – about twenty minutes – before she is up again, high as a kite, snatching at her toys, leaping and twirling. This goes on for about two and a half hours. I don’t know if it’s the strange weather or the dash across the field which inspired her most, but she’s certainly had a great day.

Today it’s dull and cloudy again. No hint of sun.

Obviously, another lovely walk, and, as we know ……………………………..

‘A tired dog is a good dog.’

Isis came from the Aeza cat and dog rescue and adoption centre in Aljezur, Portugal. For information about adopting an animal f