Pets Corner

His name's Spencer and I've had him just over 12 months. He's slightly over 2 years old. He can be incredibly obedient, but only when he wants to. I've never met such a stubborn breed of dog. He's also incredibly protective, and will automatically place himself in the best position to protect you when out. If someone he doesn't know sits near you in a pub, he quickly gets between you and them. I've never known such a loving dog. He'll cuddle against you all day long if you'll let him. Here's another picture of him, "mum" is under there somewhere!

He's lovely Bohica, I believe he knows how much you love him, is he licking his lips at the camera man ?

We had to take Cassie to the vet in Coventry one week before her 14th birthday We were taking Shelley to the vet in Seaford and she died in my wife's arms on the doorstep of the surgery, aged 8

Oh dear. It is heartbreaking to lose a pet, after all, they are part of your family. I am a cat person and have always had cats. A few years ago I had a beautiful tortoiseshell cat given to me as a small kitten. I had her injected with everything I should have but she constantly had gingivitis and even tonsillitis at one stage. Sadly she developed feline leukaemia and eventually, when I saw she was constantly curling into a ball in the dark corner of the room, I couldn't stand seeing her suffer so had to take her to the vet to be put down. She was only seven. I cried and cried. However, I now have two lovely ginger cats, cheeky little Hector who is about ten or eleven now and a really sissy cat, and Daisy, who had an incident in my son's garden when he owned her and a dog jumped at her by the fence - she tried to get away but got her leg and tail caught in some rubble. She was only two years old, a beautiful long haired ginger girl, and fortunately the vet decided she just couldn't put her down so amputated her back leg. Nowadays, two years later, she is a contented little soul, we call her a cheeky girl, and my, she goes like a rocket when she runs. She can't jump very high but is quite happy to go out in my garden, which is well fenced, and we often let her out to have a nose around the front of the house. We do, however, leave the side gate slightly open in case a dog should decide to chase her.

Aawww, Janey, you know they learn to cope don't they, just like we have to in life. We love them and they love you back. As you are aware we were away for the weekend and we were sitting on some decking which was spaced just a little too far apart and when Charlie walked on it, very gingerly, his back leg when in between the planks and he was stuck but I managed to pull and ease his leg free again. He spent the next hour sitting by me and licking my leg. Was that a big 'thank you' or what.

Oh definitely Dreamtime! That's what my little ginger girl does to thank me for her comfortable home and good food, oh, and games! A good licking while doing the endless pummelling movement on my lap! And the other one waves his paw at us when he wants a fuss, really funny.

Helen, perhaps as we are now confined indoors these days could we remember our pets. Going back a few years we saw some lovely pics shown of some of your pets and It would be nice to see them now. I know not everyone will participate but they play a big part in our lives and bring a lot of happiness to most of us and I thought they deserved a mention. All keep well and safe out there.

It would be nice to see your pet/s Dreamtime. I see your little doggy in your profile. I'm not allowed animals as I'm allergic to most things and can barely look after me, let alone anything else. I've got one triffid in the dining room and that's it. I think it survives by eating guests. It attacks me from time to time but I've got it tied up with green string and it knows that it won't get watered ever if it gobbles me up. One time it dipped its leaves in my dinner and then wiped gravy all over my hair as I walked passed. We had words and one of us got pruned.

Helen, meet Leo, he would like nothing more than to get his jaws round your Triffid, he has a fascination for Petunias too. He turned two years old this month and the photo you see in my older profile pic. was when he was 14 weeks old. He has a split personality, being a 'nice little doggy' one minute and a quick-as-a-flash rabbit the next, mainly when he has done something wrong. He will show his pearly white fangs if anyone approaches the gate but will melt when he gets his daily back massage. Earlier in this thread you see Charlie (I have to say here there will never be another Charlie). Leo has a character of his own now and I keep reminding him of his Uncle Charlie so there is hope for him yet. He is loved too much, that's the problem.

This is about a Husky, a rescue dog. The first owner took her teeth out with pliers, the second owner was physically cruel to her, the third owner was not cruel but being old could not walk her and a husky needs to run so the next door neighbour used to walk her. The old man died so the neighbour took the dog on. At least two walks a day and a drink in the pub after, kindness showered on her, that husky does not leave his side. How trusting can a dog be after what she went through but at least she now has the right owner.

Hi all - let me introduce you to Harry, our 11 year old cat. Harry has been a treasured member of our household for the last 5 years. We rescued him from our brilliant local animal aid charity - his previous owner had to part company with him because their new landlord decreed that tenants could not have pets. Harry has helped us get through some very dark days in the last 5 years, health wise. I hope the attached photo has captured his spirit and sense of humour.

You are a handsome little fella Harry, hope you know how much you are loved.

When I was a youngster (here we go!) my dad worked at the Standard and the stray cat who resided in the Fitting Shop had kittens, so obviously they were all taken and he brought home the jet black male one as dad said he looked the liveliest. I wanted to call him Jet but he got called Titus for some unknown reason and when he was called in at night dad would be standing at the door calling "Tit. Tit. Tit". We had a very long back garden in Lime Tree Ave, and rather overgrown and trying to see a black cat out there in the dark at a late hour was quite hilarious at the time. Titus was most likely mousing around out there. It was like a ritual every night, dad would be there calling Tit in, and more often than not had to go out there and fetch him in in order to lock up for the night. Goodness knows what the neighbours thought. Not sure if Titus was a Roman name or what but it figures he was always out there roamin'!!!! No joke, folks, it really happened, turned out to be a beautiful sleek coated cat, and the first pet I was allowed to keep.

These stories are cheering me up. The only pets we had when I was a child was a series of unfortunate goldfish that got won at fairs and called Fred. All of them, until one laid eggs and we renamed her Freida. My aunt had a dog though, called Pip. A cocker spaniel that would do anything for laughs, including deliberately running up the hallway, slipping the last few feet and slamming into the end wall. Mum's dog during the war was another spaniel, with no respect for rationing. From time to time my mum, her mum and the dog would visit a neighbour. They were all desperately poor but the woman would always save a little treat of bread and margarine for the dog. The dog would politely accept the small treat and secretly hold it in his mouth until he thought that nobody was looking. He'd then spit it out and sit on it. They'd get home and find soggy bread and marge stuck in his fur. Turned out he hated margarine. He was a strict butter only dog.

I've had cats all my life. This is our lovely old boy Parsley - believe it or not he is around 21! We're not totally sure of his age as he came from the CPL. When they cleared the land of the car scrapyards to build the Ricoh Arena there were lots of stray cats and kittens and he was one of them. Despite that he has the loveliest nature of any cat I have ever known - very loving. It's almost as if he is grateful to us for having him. He actually lived in a couple of other houses before he moved himself in with us! We thought he had been abandoned when he first approached me on our drive but we found his prior home and contacted the then keeper. He has been happy for him to live with us as works away a lot and he hasn't looked back since! Everyone loves Parsley!