Comments on: Looking after Nino

By: 14th July «

14th July « — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:23:50 +0000

[...] de ferié , I dozed off again and woke up at nearly 8.30 and remembered that I was looking after Nino (the neighbour’s dog) and he’d be crossing his little [...]

By: tracey

tracey — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:10:19 +0000

What an awful dilemma for you.
It does seem ‘a dog’s life’ for poor little nino.
Keep making a difference and perhaps you will get a chance to talk to your friend about the way she keeps him tethered.
Is he not able to run around in her garden?

Unfortunately her garden is as open as ours and he could easily escape. Her front door opens directly from the living room/kitchen onto the road so if Nino were free he could make a run for it. That’s one reason she keeps him tied up, but I do think they could let him run around in the house during the evenings. They could catch him if anyone rang the doorbell. She’s also convinced he would pee all over the house, so, in her own mind she is doing the logical thing in keeping him tethered.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:29:15 +0000

Poor little Nino.
While your neighbor loves him in her own way, does she also realize how cruel and unkind she is being?
I only hope that this neighbor goes out of town very, very often.

hello Susan. Our neighbour was due to go away for the weekend tomorrow but she’s not well. Maybe I’ll ask her if she’d like me to take him for walk though.

By: canisfamiliaris

canisfamiliaris — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:43:52 +0000

You should report that woman to the French equivalent of the RSPCA. I would like to give that dog a ‘proper life’. He’s missing out on so much.

Read my website. Now that’s a proper dog’s life!!

derek

I couldn’t agree more. You give Beattie everything a dog could want and you obviously think the world of one another.

By: Eddie 2-Sox

Eddie 2-Sox — Thu, 08 May 2008 18:14:12 +0000

I don’t like dogs at all, especially snappy yappy versions like this, but that poor bloody mutt doesn’t deserve solitary confinement on the end of a lead. The RSPCA would not like it over here, is there a French equivalent?

hello Eddie. I know it sounds cowardly but I don’t think I’d dare report my neighbour. Firstly because I don’t think it would be construed as cruelty here (see Sophie’s comment) and secondly, because Claudine doesn’t think she’s being unkind – and she is fond of him in her way.

By: BearNaked

BearNaked — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:01:17 +0000

I never knew about this cultural difference until this post. How very sad for all the animals that are tied up all day long in a house. Why even bother having a pet. Poor little guy.

Yes, I think people should consider very carefully before taking on an animal.

By: Little old me

Little old me — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:56:47 +0000

Poor little thing. But if it is all he has ever known I suppose he is happy.

Yes, that’s one reason why I wouldn’t bring him to stay in our house when they go away. It wouldn’t seem fair when he had to go back and be tied up again. Also, I think our cats might be extremely put out.

By: Sophie

Sophie — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:35:09 +0000

I agree Sandy a lot of French love their animals but think that they are happy being tied etc.
Our animals are lucky they get so spoilt, I think it’s only normal but unfortunately many of my compatriotes don’t.

Is it just the British who regard animals as family? I remember staying with an Italian family who kept their poor dog tied up outside(they lived in a second floor flat) and almost totally ignored him. After several days I asked if they knew who he belonged to and they said he was theirs!

By: Pat

Pat — Mon, 05 May 2008 11:23:27 +0000

He must love you. Like you I doubt if I would have the courage to say something.

It’s reassuring to hear that you wouldn’t say anything either, Pat, because I think you’re much more outspoken than I am as a rule.

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 05 May 2008 10:31:11 +0000

It’s a wonder that the poor little sod doesn’t die of boredom!

Yes, Keith, it’s not much of a life is it?