It's been a long time since I've loved dogs. Maybe fifty years. We had a sleek boxer called Ella, who would curl up on the end of my bed. And then a little sniffly pug Kym.

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Adored them both but then I wasn't responsible for their behaviour. That was my mum, an absolute martinet in the animal behaviour department.

Prana, my Burmese cat in my early 20s, was a purring beauty. Then we had Bongo (mainly for the kids) who dragged in a bird, squawking, crying. Poor unsaveable maggie.

Some dog owners I know are incredibly responsible, the vast majority are not. Some cat owners I know are r

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