I am typing this to the background sound of crunching. It's walnut season and as we have two huge walnut trees in the garden, this means hours of fun for the dogs and loads of mess for me. They ferret around looking for the black oval fruits hidden in the grass or gravel, then carry […]
The plants in my little orto are under attack! The recent new additions – some brussel sprouts and fennel- have had their leaves ripped off and all that's left are some stalks. I immediately suspected porcupine, who are know to be partial to a bit of veg. (And my bulbs!) I thought I had plugged
Well yesterday was a day I'd rather forget. We feed a group of black and white feral cats and have given them names. One of them, Billy, disappeared a few months back and we thought he'd probably died. But yesterday afternoon I heard a commotion by the woodshed and rushed there to find Gassie barking
I'm just taking a second away from the doggies and pussy cats to tell you about my new service. I hope you don't mind! I think you all know I am a writer and a trainer, but I have just launched a life coaching site with a rather unusual twist. The first session uses a
Well, will you just look at this? Do you remember my appeal for a new home for Foxy the tiny pup left at the door of Linda and her family in Abruzzo? They were travelling back to the UK and couldn't keep her. The story was seen by Patrizia, whose lovely story about adopting canile
I have just had an email from my friend animal healer Margrit Coates with the wonderful news that her latest book Angel Pets is just out. Margrit is one of the world's leading animal healers and communicators and I can't wait to get my copy, which of course I'll review for you here. And the
Angel Pets by Margrit Coates – with Gassie – my angel! Read More »
It is always wonderful to hear pet adoption stories, so many thanks today to guest blogger Patrizia a British ex-pat who lives near Como. This is Patrizia's adoption story… When our beloved Greyhounds died, two within the year, I said "No more dogs." It was too much heartbreak. However, I am a glutton for punishment
As I mentioned in the blog, a couple of weeks ago, I was interviewed for Wendy’s Animal Talk, a Californian radio show. I talked about our life with pets here in Italy and the various japes we have got up to, as well as a serious bit about dog shelters in Italy. LISTEN HERE TO
Well, it's coming up to a year now since we adopted Gassie, the mad English Setter, from the Internet and he is still as adorably bonkers as ever. Last night he hauled himself up and over the wire fence, ran into the wheat field leading to the woods and then raced back to the gate
I am convinced the answer to this is yes! I have noticed a definite change of behaviour in my pets when there is a full moon. They are more skittish, more prone to unusual or annoying behaviour such as, in the case of yellow Lab ZsazSa, asking to be let out at three o'clock in