Friends of mine were away in Scotland for five weeks, so it was my job to look after the household menagerie: three cats and Nala, the dog. I went full concierge mode, setting up “Gold Class” seats in the recliners for two of the cats so they could lounge in style on cold nights. The third cat inhabited the master wing. It’s her happy place.
It just so happened to be Nala’s 5th birthday while I was there. My friends had left a bag of toys, and she unpacked them like it was Christmas morning. One toy didn’t survive the excitement. It lost a leg. Later, Nala spent a few minutes whining by the TV. After some detective work, I realised she wanted the missing leg, which had wedged itself under the cupboard. Mystery solved!
Every day we went for long bush walks, which she treats as a full-on “sniff-ari.” Every blade of grass and every twig she investigates with gusto. Fine by me because I love a mindful walk. One Saturday night, she coughed up some white foam, which sent us straight to the emergency vet. Thankfully, it was just a mild doggy cold—something she could have picked up sniffing where another dog had been—but I always take any sign of illness seriously. (It’s really important to leave vet and emergency contact details, any illness information so I know what to look out for, and money to fund any emergencies like these).
Nala (aka Nu or Nunu) is a total sweetheart, but also a reminder that every pet has their quirks. She doesn’t like being patted while lying down or anywhere near her food. She can be randomly snappy with other dogs… and sometimes humans, too. It’s always good to get the low down on quirks. I’m quirky, so I totally understand.
