LIFE IN MY NORTHERN TOWN

AS you may know, I recently inherited a puppy and her name, to my eternal embarrassment, is Audrey.

Don’t ask me what make it is because I have no idea.

These things come without identification plates and I can’t be bothered googling it.

All I know is that it is no longer a puppy and is now officially a dog and it basically continues to run and ruin my life in equal measure.

Dragging a dog around town certainly puts a different perspective on things.

It is interesting to note how many cafes and pubs are dog-friendly in town.

The Baum, for instance, allows her in, where she is usually quite a hit with the various customers.

Other pubs are not as accommodating.

Don’t get me wrong, I have not dragged her round every pub on some sort of canine pub-crawl, but sometimes it is nice to drop in for a spot of lunch on a Saturday afternoon or after work.

And it’s the same with shops and cafes.

Obviously the Wheatsheaf and Exchange shopping centres are out of the question as no dogs are allowed unless they are guide dogs.

And I think I would be pushing it by claiming that the candyfloss on legs was indeed helping me get around.

I can understand the dilemma to a certain extend as food is being served. But as far as I can make out, it is served on a table and not on the floor.

And if the dog is house-trained, then I really don’t see what the problem is.

I know that some people don’t really like dogs – me included, weirdly – and I can understand their frustration if they are enjoying a quiet drink and the dog at the next table takes a sudden fancy to their left leg.

But if it is well-behaved and sits quietly then, again, I don’t see the issue.

And then there is transport.

Trains and busses are no problem, but for some reason - which I have yet to fathom - dogs are not allowed on trams.

Perhaps someone from the Metro system could enlighten me.

I am just lucky that we are surrounded by some of the best moorland and countryside in England where I can take my bag of fluff to run around without the hassle of worrying about she can and cannot go.