Dogs on the beach

I have been taking my mutt, Barney for regular Sunday walks along Cabopino beach for about 4 years, as I used to live there and it was his favourite place. Now I understand as well as the next woman that nobody wants dogs doing their business on the beach - and I always take him for a mini-walk on the wasteground near home before venturing out to Cabopino, plus take plenty of poop bags with us just in case. Today the police came along in a 4-wheel drive vehicle and said ´no dogs on beach now´. So Barney hid behind a sand dune, with visions of being hand-cuffed and carted off in the meat wagon to the nearest doggie prison, while I apologised profusely as I didn´t know the new rules about walking dogs on the beach. The rozzers were quick to move on so they could berate other dog walkers, so I don´t know if this ban just for the summer months, or all year round? Local rules and regulations in southern Spain can be quite grey areas, depending on the local police, the town hall and even, on occasion the security guards on the beaches. Does anyone know if there is a hard and fast rule regarding dog-walking on the beaches? Although Barney is none the worse for his brush with the law, he was kicking his legs and yipping and yapping during his afternoon siesta - he must have been dreaming about doggie borstal again.

Doggone vet´s bills

A couple of weeks ago I went away for a weekend to Seville and my good friend came to look after Barney the mutt. He is Heinz 57 variety (the dog, not the friend), and I found him 6 years ago by the lakes on the way to Ardales. I didn´t steal him (contrary to rumour), and as he was padding along a country lane, tick-ridden and starving, I decided to take him home and make him better. A few medical bills along the way, including an intricate op on his back to remove a disc, I could not have made a better decision that day at Villafranco - he is a beautiful dog and has a great nature (ok you non-doggie lovers out there - stop yawning). Anyway, I digress......... After returning from Seville said mutt was scratching a patch of skin near his tail for hours and eventually made it bleed from all his gnawing. I took him to my vet in Calahonda (who is brilliant) and he told me it was an insect bite (not the dreaded sand fly thank God) and he said I would need to buy a cone to attach to his collar, a flea collar, some anti-biotics and some betadine and gauze to dab the affected area. Then he gave him an anti-inflammatory injection for good measure and the bill was €80. Now don´t get me wrong, he is worth €80 and much much more, but why are vet´s bills so steep? I have decided in my next life I am going to come back as a vet or a dentist! Watch this space.