A pet isn’t just for Christmas
LAST week the entire cast of the pantomime, in which I am appearing at High Wycombe, went gooey over a dog.
Arthur, a miniature Schnauzer owned by Ashley Day, who plays the handsome prince, jumped on the wicked queen’s bed, sat on her throne, entranced the children who play the dwarves and regarded the animal-head parts of the costume with curiosity.
Arthur almost encouraged me to bring forward the purchase of my own dogs.
Almost but not quite.
Arthur almost encouraged me to bring forward the purchase of my own dogs. Almost but not quite
This is the time of year when people give in to the impulse to buy an endearing puppy or kitten and then, finding they have an animate being rather than a theatre prop, take the poor little creature to a shelter, discarding it along with the baubles from the Christmas tree.
So let me add my voice to the plethora of pleas and warnings issued by animal welfare organisations: don’t buy a pet for Christmas unless you have owned one for years and know exactly what is involved in terms of trouble, wreckage, training and expense.