DB and LD were leaving town for a long trip.

I wouldn’t have volunteered to help had I known that they lived in such a midden. The house was absolutely filthy, and extremely untidy.

My job was to ensure that their collie was catered for while they were away. “Just get him some water and he’ll be fine”, they said. When I asked about a bowl they pointed to cupboard that stored glasses. The dog didn’t have a special bowl. He just shared crockery and glassware with the rest of the family.

When I discussed the arrangements with the dog he was very dismissive. In a show of protest he knocked over the glass of water that I had prepared for him.