Cats aren't my pick either, Roger. We couldn't have one anyway, as my daughter is very allergic to them. Don't mind them if they belong to someone else and are kept indoors, or at least restricted in their wandering - big debate over here about putting restrictions on cats - ie keeping them locked up inside all the time. They do a lot of damage to native wildlife, especially around here where we live on the edge of a national park. Dogs, on the other hand, are regulated to within an inch of their lives, understandably seeing as they're more likely to do damage to humans, but it's a bit frustrating when you can't even take your dog for a swim at the beach without risking a huge fine. They do have a "doggie beach" near us, but it's in another council area and only residents are allowed to use it. Our council doesn't have one. We go anyway in the summer - how can you deny a labrador a swim on a 35?C day?
Here he is - he's 12 and a half, so getting a bit grey around the chops and a few other places. The vet classified him as geriatric the other day, which initially offended me, but I suppose at 87 in human years, he is a bit of a senior canine. He still thinks he's a puppy though, and bounds off when he gets excited, only to regret it later when he comes limping back - sound familiar? It does to me. lol