Posting days are Sunday and Wednesday.

Wednesday February 6th 2019

Isis does not appear to be affected by the cold. Her undercoat is as warm as a  Jack Wolfskin puffer jacket.

When I carry away a large ball of fluff from a grooming session, I can feel the warmth radiating from it.

Some lucky birds will make use of it during the nesting season, I hope.

She never shows any sign of needing extra bedding. Often, when we share the day bed she takes herself off to lie on the rug and cool down for a few minutes.

Her temperature control seems to work perfectly without interference; nevertheless, pets’ humans being as they are, I succumb to the temptation.

The temperature drops into minus figures. There’s a hard frost, and I can’t bring myself to creep under my warm duvet knowing that Isis is lying downstairs in the icy back room.

I sort out a dog fleece, make sure that she sniffs my hand to check it’s me and carefully cover her.

My thoughtfulness is rewarded with a low growl.

Thanks Isis.

A., Polymath’s friend from Barmouth is staying. It’s well past dog’s bedtime and there’s not a sound from next door. We settle down with the remainder of a bottle of wine. The overhead light was switched off earlier in deference to Isis, and now we sit back in the dim light of a standard lamp and r-e-l-a-x.

Suddenly, the whoozy ambiance is interrupted by a soft swooshing sound as the door is pushed open.

Yeek! Startled, we look up.

Someone doesn’t wish to be left out.

It’s a ghost dog.

Isis came from the Aeza dog and cat rescue in Portugal. If you would like to see dogs in need of fostering, adoption or sponsoring, from Britain or from abroad, contact Dogwatch UK.