giving someone else's child a dog (particularly in a family where another child is nervous to the point of phobic about animals) without clearing it with the parents strikes me as spectacularly Off
Agree completely. Maybe Nicola and Peter are thinking that the puppy can always muck in at Trennels if necessary (but then that would be devastating for Chas) or maybe it's culture of the times, and all the RSPCA's "a dog isn't just for Christmas" campaigns have made us more aware.
(I do wonder about the dogs generally in the series. Tessa - who is definitely not a farm dog, not allowed near the sheep - must need a lot of exercise. Presumably that's one of Mrs M's chores when the kids aren't home, walking her. And keeping a young poodle at a boarding school - however devoted Esther may be, that just doesn't seem at all kind - Daks must spend most of his time shut up in a run/kennel.)
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timeasmymeasure
dogs as gifts
Date: 2014-12-05 07:22 pm (UTC)Agree completely. Maybe Nicola and Peter are thinking that the puppy can always muck in at Trennels if necessary (but then that would be devastating for Chas) or maybe it's culture of the times, and all the RSPCA's "a dog isn't just for Christmas" campaigns have made us more aware.
(I do wonder about the dogs generally in the series. Tessa - who is definitely not a farm dog, not allowed near the sheep - must need a lot of exercise. Presumably that's one of Mrs M's chores when the kids aren't home, walking her. And keeping a young poodle at a boarding school - however devoted Esther may be, that just doesn't seem at all kind - Daks must spend most of his time shut up in a run/kennel.)