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

Sunday April 11th 2018

In addition to her bright light issues, Isis has decided that certain areas and routes are very dangerous. One no-go area, unfortunately, is the stretch from our front gate to the corner. Only a short distance, but long enough for one small dog to create a lot of hassle – and attract a good deal of unwanted attention.

There is a bus stop opposite my gate, and I am often regarded with great suspicion by bored travellers waiting for the bus. I know that they’re thinking how cruel I am, dragging that poor little dog along, forcing her to walk when she clearly doesn’t want to. Recently, an irate man calls across the road, “If he doesn’t want to go, he doesn’t want to go.” I explain that she just has a thing about this bit of pavement and will be fine once we turn the corner.

And, of course, once she has turned the corner and the man can no longer see her, up flips her tail and off she trots.

Grrrrrrrr. Thanks, Isis.

The following day, the weather is perfect for a walk to the park, and I am delighted when R. texts to say that she and S. will pick up Isis.

It’s a silvery cloud day and Isis dances gleefully while I struggle with her harness. She pops out of the front door with R., argues briefly about which direction they’ll take and off they go.

She’ll have a lovely time and will sleep soundly when she returns. I give Daisy her thyroid tablet and brace myself for another blood test.

But there’s a knock on the door. It’s R. with Isis. The little pest has refused to walk more than a few yards with the Pet Angels and when brought home flings herself pathetically against her gate.

“She’s very pleased to see you,” comments R. as she unwraps Isis from her harness. “Well, I’m not pleased to see her,” I reply, looking crossly at the little spoiler.

Playing in the lane is not an option today. It’ll be a quagmire. But Isis doesn’t complain. She’s not herself.

All day she is troubled by the light. She keeps flinching and ducking her head. She is clearly distressed, and when I return from my appointment, every time I move, she’s right behind me.

In the evening we settle on the day bed and she sleeps soundly. It’s a different matter when, just before one, I go up to bed.

Isis barks on and off for the next two hours: not “There’s a fox in the garden” kind of announcement, but worried, miserable little barks.

It’s about two-thirty and she’s still not settled. I go down and join her on the day bed. For a while she is restless and growly, but then she sleeps soundly, stretched out along my legs.

When I creep back to bed at about three, she is deeply asleep. She doesn’t stir until about nine.

Strange little dog. I wonder what demons lurk in the silver clouds.

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.co.uk