I’m not a digger and I’ve never dug.
Now I realize I’ve alienated half my readers (Editor’s note: I think I did that a long time ago). I think half of you are obsessed with your pets, no matter their shape or size. Let’s be honest, some pets are quite oddly shaped.
So it was no surprise to read recently that the RSPCA has once again urged people not to go shopping for dogs on a whim, or even on a leash.
Last year, 7,000 pets were rescued in Scotland and 3,000 were returned to loving homes.
Amazingly, the RSPCA responds to 136,000 calls about unwanted pets and its centers are always full. It’s no exaggeration to say it’s raining cats and dogs.
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Just like I don’t dig, thousands of animal breeders don’t understand those of us who don’t like anything four-legged, sharp-toothed, or furry.
I don’t like the trend of using local cafes and bars with dogs. This is especially true when the dogs start barking at each other.
My memories of growing up in the council housing system were that you could hardly play soccer on the street because there were so many Dougs running around.
I still remember when a big Alsatian chewed on a newspaper ring (or was it his butt?) and pushed the Evening Citizen (does anyone remember that?) through the neighbor’s door. I tremble when I think about being barked at.
Ever since I was a recycled old jogger, I found digging to be a threat. Initially, we worked out on the caged all-weather pitch at Inverclyde Sports Centre. One day, I suddenly found the padlock locked, and when I asked why, I was told that the owner had brought his dog inside.
Of course, when the dog is on a leash, it’s not a problem, but there have been many times when an off-leash dog has chased me and jumped on an excited jogger. No wonder I didn’t make the Olympic team.
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Recently, the Largs People Facebook started a discussion about whether dogs should be kept outdoors on a leash.
There were around 150 posts, the majority of them from dog owners, who expressed a clear opinion that dogs should be kept on leashes.
One dog lover said, “It depends on the dog, the owner, and whether the dog is trained or not. I let my dog off the leash because he needs to expend energy chasing the ball.” I don’t let her near children etc. It’s about investing time in training your dog. Some of the worst dogs I’ve met are on a leash and the owner can’t control it. There is also.”
I’ve even seen it at my local kennel cafe.
A father has revealed his eight-year-old daughter has a debilitating fear of dogs. The reason: When she was 2 years old, two dogs jumped on her tricycle while she was at prom. The owner was apologetic, but the damage was done.
Charlotte tried to make the children laugh by commenting, “No dogs, no kids…I’m just kidding. I never put the kids on a leash or even let them out of their crates.”
When it comes to RSPCA statistics, perhaps we should follow the example of other countries such as Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands, which require a £100 license to own excavated land. It’s not a joke.
With millions of dog owners in this country, that would be of enormous value. Then maybe we can hire more dog wardens to scrape the ever-growing piles of poop from the sidewalks.
Thought of the week: In Spiritualist philosophy, forgiving heals. And when you let go, you grow.
The world’s oldest person in 2023 will be a French nun who left for the Abbey of the Sky after her 118th birthday.
As if that wasn’t an amazing accomplishment in itself, Sister Andre became the oldest person to survive COVID-19. Although she was in isolation, she did not show any symptoms. When interviewed about her secret to longevity, her answer lightened my load.
One of her lifestyle staples was drinking red wine every day. It’s a bit like me. And what do you eat with vino tinto? A cheese platter, she said.
Lest any medical consultant flip out at this point, I’ve read enough articles showing that “moderate” red wine consumption is associated with a lower risk of stroke, heart disease, and other illnesses. .
Even better, a new study from the Journal of Alzheimer’s Diet found that regular consumption of both wine and cheese is associated with improved cognitive performance later in life.
If only I could remember where I put my glass.
