I was on Sky News reviewing the papers on the Breakfast Show the other day. I’ve been doing this now for the last couple of years.
There was a story headlined ‘Barking Mad to spend a fortune on dog treats’. It was about the Kennel Club not approving of luxury dog treats, branding them as completely unnecessary.
Some owners have paid ridiculous prices for pricey (pardon the pun) treats. Superfood sausages – £27. Buffalo tails – £50 for six.
The Kennel Club says what dogs really need are walks, love and attention, and they are all free.
The pet food manufacturing association estimates 3.2m UK householders have got a pet since the start of the Covid crisis.
Which brings me to a question I am asked often – do I have a pet, and am I an animal lover?
Well, I don’t have a pet, as it wouldn’t be fair to it – I travel a lot.
I am, though, an animal lover.
Most of my friends have dogs, some have horses. But I had a very bad experience with a horse in Majorca a few years ago, which put me off them for life.
My earliest memory as a little boy was our pet dog,…
