Love is...

A man with his new puppy.

On a sadder note, a friend had his Spaniel stolen from his car on Friday. You may remember that my neighbour had a bitch and five tiny puppies stolen from the yard next door in August. Recently, there has been a major spate of dog thefts. Every day we hear of another pet that has been lifted from a car, garden or whilst an eye is distracted during a walk. If you have a dog, please, beware.

If you are buying a dog, please make sure you know the provenance and check the ownership of the dog if it has a microchip. It takes only seconds for a vet to read the number. If you buy a puppy, make sure you see it at its home and preferably with it's mother. In other countries it's a legal requirement for a dog to be tattooed. I'm convinced and will be having mine done as a double protection alongside their microchips. It's a visible reference that can be read by the naked eye and there is no way of hiding it. The National Tattoo Register can be consulted at any time and there is no need to be a vet to have access. It's only £7 to have a dog tattooed and £25 for a lifetime registration. It's so little to pay for a priceless pet.