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Shadow

I have acquired a shadow - actually I have always had a shadow; especially on sunny days - but this evening, I have a four-legged shadow, who moves every time I move, lies at the bottom of the stairs when I go up to check on Littlest and her sister, and is now collapsed at my feet (as close to my feet as he can get without actually lying on them). Panting!

When last unwell, he drooled rivulettes of drool all over the floor. Today the floor is dry, but the panting is quite pronounced. Is this just a hazard of having a big, constantly ravenous dog, who eats everything he comes across that is remotely edible? Today, he sampled a maggot-infested rabbit, until I noticed and it spoke to him - Beep! Beep! - and he left it alone. His good behaviour was rewarded with a bone, but he obviously decided that that wasn't sufficient, as there are now fewer apples left on the tree than there were this morning - the size of the next family crumble is shrinking by the day!

So over-appled or rabbit-poisoned, he lies on the floor. Or has he, perhaps, come out in sympathy with friends' equally large (equally stupid?) and equally ravenous dog who ate an entire chocolate fudge cake earlier today and according to their vet requires a night-long vigil by his basket? Four-legged friend would probably welcome the company, if I sat up with him (and the mice) in the utility room all night. Actually, hopefully no mice as current tally is two caught.

Best update with health of various four-legged friends tomorrow ... meanwhile, thinking of friend and her chocolate-filled dog.

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