The Eyes Have It

One of the problems experienced by most photographers when using flash is where the person's eyes reflect the light and cause "red eye". Well it appears that this is not a problem with the eyes of a dog although the same effect could be responsible for "green eye" instead. Several attempts to get Jewl to sit and pose were unsuccessful as she was so excited and bouncy but eventually I did manage this shot.

What a Filthy Day!

Today was one of those days when you didn't go out unless you had to - and we had to! We had appointments this afternoon for flu jabs and we had intended to catch the bus part way and walk the rest to the surgery. The best laid plans and all that went by the wayside and we went in the car but while we were out we also took our son's dog for a walk. It was cold, wet and windy. By that I mean the weather not the dog. When we took her home she was cold and wet too, I'm not sure about the windy!

Activity Returns

Activity returned to the Market place today but it was only to be expected as Thursday is a market day. The market stalls however were boosted by the addition of two pet-centred additions outside the library. One was by the PDSA and the other by the neighbourhood Dog Wardens who were encouraging people to register their dogs with the Council.

In Training

There were a number of dogs with their handlers in the town centre today including this puppy in training.

But it was not just normal dog-training as it is being trained to be a guide dog for the blind. There was also a stall on the Market Place containing information about the dogs and of course collection tins to raise money for the Guide Dogs charity. The dogs are invaluable for blind and partially sighted people and their training isn't cheap but once fully trained and homed, they repay the costs of their training several times over in the long term.

Licences

Some years ago you needed a licence to keep a dog. In a blog last week I mentioned James Bond who of course had a licence to kill and unless this dog has a driving licence he could end up killing someone or at least with a mascot should he discover how to drive the mobility scooter!

Cooling Off

After a period of fine dry weather, today was yet another hot and sticky one but it did cool off sufficiently to tempt us out for a pleasant walk along the canal this evening. And we were not the only ones enjoying warm evening sunshine but the two dogs playing ball in the water had perhaps the best way of keeping cool.

The Longest Day

When they said today would be the longest day, I didn't realise it meant getting up early to take Pom, one of our cats, to the see the vet and then having to stay up until after midnight tonight to give him medication. In between we took our son's dog for a walk which gave me the opportunity to take this photo although there's no other reason for it. It shows St Thomas' Catholic Church as seen from Field Road.

Bounding Into Spring

Jewl certainly had a spring in her step today when I let her off the lead for a run around the park. When out walking she only has two speeds anyway - fast and faster! But she adores to be let loose on grass and runs and runs and runs.


I just wish I had half her energy.

Patience

Patience is a virtue but these two dogs waiting for their master outside a supermarket seemed thoroughly fed up and dejected. Even a crowd of noisy schoolchildren that passed by failed to rouse them from their lethargy.