Hi. I’m Dusty, a one year old English Bull Terrier living in Manchester with my two Dads. Apparently it’s National Pet Day and I’ve been asked to put paw to pad to write something profound on the subject. Much to my horror it turns out that I’m their pet, not the other way around, which I’m still trying to come to terms with.
I love Manchester - there are SO many places to go to the toilet here. Having spent a lot of time in the city centre, I’ve been learning about these things called bars and pubs where people get silly and then go for a pee on the way to their taxi. Learning by example, I do the same thing, stopping on street corners, shop doorways and sometimes in the middle of the road as traffic hurtles towards my Dads. You should see their faces. Priceless.
But quite a few drinking holes have lovely outdoor spaces, some of which welcome dogs and even provide a bowl of water. Like you lot, we love a drink in the sunshine and here are the best bars and pubs with outdoor spaces in which to do just that. I only drink water at these places. My dads haven’t noticed the missing bottles from their shelf which I keep for when they’ve gone to bed…
Another good place for dogs during the sunny daytime is a place called Canal Street, where there are not only lovely places to eat and drink but there is no scary traffic threatening to squash me. It turns out that my Dads are something called ‘homosexual’. Whatever. When it comes to sexuality, you people seem to have all manner of categories and hang ups. Dogs don’t really care – we’ll hump a toilet roll stand if it stays still for long enough – but I do know a couple of French Bulldogs who seem very close, if you catch my drift… Anyway, the Gay Village is lovely, full of interesting people who want to stop and stroke me and there’s a nice space next to it called Sackville Park where lots of city centre folk stroll with their pooches. Great place for a good sniff.
Of course Manchester is world renowned for its canals and its music. Consequently one of my favourite walks is along the canal paths which lead from the city centre to The Quays. You meet lots of other dogs and their people, and there are always geese too, which I find a bit scary. Vicious things – they really hiss when I just want to make friends. Along the way, you can read about the history of a magical place called The Hacienda. My dads used to go there. Sometimes they talk about the bands they saw ‘back in the day’. One of them saw The Smiths. Fair dos. They both saw the Cocteau Twins. Impressive, I'll give them that. They even ended up back stage with Pet Shop Boys at The Hacienda one night which they go on about all the time... Honestly. GET OVER IT! If either of them EVER claims they were at that Sex Pistols gig at the Free Trade Hall, I’ll bite his face off.
Fortunately there are still plenty of great live music venues in the city where more modern hits of the day get played. So far I've been driving 'the boys' bonkers barking at both classical music and electronica, but one of them accidentally put some ZZ Top on last week and I quite liked that. I think he's got some Status Quo somewhere I may sniff out.
In the city, I have to stay on my lead when all I want to do is go and say hello to everyone I meet or who happens to be close to me. People do stop and make a fuss and I play all cute. I even do a little excitement wee sometimes to make them feel really special, usually when they try to hand me a leaflet on becoming something called a Jehova's Witness. Some people though look horrified and turn away, as if I might attack them, which makes me sad. The nicest ones are the people who sit on blankets or cardboard – I see the same ones every day and they always give me a big hug and share some food, even though my Dads say old chicken bones aren’t good for me. They let me lick them too. They are my friends.
In the end though, despite my fondness for the hustle and bustle of city living, there’s nothing like getting my paws muddy in a park, and Manchester has some great ones. In fact we’ve just moved to live close to one so I can indulge in two new things I’ve discovered – chasing squirrels and rolling in the poo of other animals. It’s the BEST fun. My dads had better get me clean though in time for my pet portrait which I’ve insisted on having done by the very talented Arty Margit. Well, my Facebook fans have been asking for signed photos so…
Exhausted now. It’s not easy typing when you have paddy paws.
Until next time. I love you. I really really really love you.
Dusty (Miss).
