Feel The Fear....

For the last 8 years my dogs and I have walked in the woods nearby. We pile in the car whatever the weather and try to get the heart pumping and the blood moving. In fact I was rather pleased to read that doctors are prescribing a stiff walk in amongst the greenery to help overcome mild depression...could have told them that..I always come home with spirits noticeably lighter..until recently that is..

A dog walker posted a warning on a local forum that her dog had gone rushing through the bushes and disturbed a wild boar. The boar not unnaturally irritated had gored the poor dog who survived but needed extensive surgery. Now, of course, I tread very lightly along the paths and shriek hysterically after the dogs should they stray from my side. In one rather dramatic incident I heard a rasping cough and sprinted, for the first time in many years, a brisk 100 metres. H. was a little bemused at first then rather taken aback to discover I was prepared to leave him to the mercy of the wildlife. That took a bit of smoothing over, I can tell you. And the noise? Never did find out but I intend to put bells on my dogs in future..