Pets on the Cut
Alison Wilkerson emerges from lockdown and meets more boaters socially distancing on the cut with their dog.
AFTER adhering to the Government’s advice, guidelines and rules (Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives), during lockdown and ensuring social distancing at all times, during the transition to Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives, I finally ventured out for a walk on the towpath after two months of socially isolating.
During this rather quiet walk on one of the hottest days of the year and having been bitten by a number of rather nasty insects, I only met a few other walkers and we duly kept out of each other’s way, staying apart by more than two metres by politely waiting and moving to the side, etc. I also met a number of cyclists who made me jump every time they overtook me (please use your bell).
I walked past a few moored boats and came across a widebeam which was on its own. On board was a gorgeous dog called Foxy. The owners – Dee, a carer and Chris, a forklift engineer – advised that he was a five-and-a-half-monthold Pomchi, which is a cross between the Pomeranian and a Chihuahua, and appropriately named as he really does look like a fox, in both colour and looks. They had got him from a local breeder as a puppy and he certainly kept them on their toes, growling at cyclists and barking hellos to passers-by.
They are usually moored in a marina, however decided to venture out on the cut to socially isolate during this nightmare of the coronavirus pandemic. Their 60ft boat was built in 2012 by Viking and they purchased it from new, having moved from a three-bed semi-detached house previously, then a caravan before the boat and have never looked back (that sounds familiar).
This was their first ever boat and they actually spent the first three to four years on the cut before being marina based. With a shower, tumble dryer, an eco toilet but no dishwasher, what more could you need, apart from other boats slowing down and sticking to tickover when passing moored boats.
Foxy is obviously a pure delight and stays on a lead, on the roof when cruising as accidents can happen of course and he has fallen in – once at the marina while playing and once when moored up, so is learning to swim. Being a puppy he likes to chew, especially shoes, and puppy training has been fun, which is where puppy training pads come in useful for little accidents/spillages. He eats cooked chicken and raw carrots, but is still not keen on dog food. He loves other dogs especially, playing with them, but has not met a cat as yet.
Toy-wise, his favourite has to be his squeaky little pig. It must be the squeaker as he absolutely loves it as well as chewing bits of wood meant for the fire! Foxy sure is good company as well as an excellent guard dog and everyone loves this little bundle of joy.