T
o most Your Dog
readers, a big, soft dog
bed and a pair of wellies
in the back of a car are the
signs of a caring owner who
walks his pets regularly.
But, as Springer Spaniel
owner Chris Richmond
recently found out, to some
people, having those items
in your boot can look highly
incriminating — and be the
fi rst step towards a knock on
the door from the police.
It all started when Chris
went down to his local garage
in Fakenham, Norfolk, to get
petrol for his lawnmower.
He left the back of his car
open, with his boots and dog
duvet on show. Unfortunately,
another customer, unfamiliar
with the trappings of a keen
dog walker, rang Norfolk
Police, claiming that Chris had
a body in the boot of his car.
Soon after, as Chris was
mowing his lawn, the police
arrived demanding he show
them his car boot. He says:
“I opened the boot to reveal
the duvet, which I explained
provides bedding for my two
Springer Spaniels, Max and
Dill, when they travel in the
car. With that, the offi cer justconfi rmed some identity details
before he was on his way.”
A spokesperson for Norfolk
Police says: “We were
called following reports of
suspicious circumstances
where a member of the public
thought they saw a body in the
boot of a car.
“A check was made at
the home address of the
registered owner of the car.
No further action was taken.”
The happy ending to
this potentially serious
misunderstanding refl ects
Chris’s wider life with
his Springers, to whom he
offered a second chance and
a forever home.
Dill came to live with him
when relatives came up
against a ‘no dogs’ policy in
their rented accommodation,
and Max was adopted
from FAITH Animal Rescue
near Norwich.
Chris adds: “They’ve
been the most loving dogs
anybody could ask for. Dill is
approaching twelve years old,
but can still keep up with our
regular nine-mile walk and
often gets mistaken for a pup.
I wouldn’t change them for
the world.”THE DOG OWNER’S
CAR KIT
Here are some recommended
items dog owners might like to
keep in their car boots.
● First aid kit — a human
one covers most canine
emergencies but you must
know how to use it.
● Old socks — great for
covering an emergency
dressing on a cut leg or paw.
● A rope slip lead — handy
if your dog loses his collar,
or for catching a loose dog
who’s in danger.
● Spare medication — if you
get stranded away from
home, a few days’ worth
of essential medication will
reduce stress for you and
suffering for your dog.
● Treats — be it food treats
or a favourite toy, always
being able to reward wanted
behaviours is the best way to
get reliable recalls and stops.
● Clean water — a two-litrebottle of tap water is great
if your dog is thirsty, and for
rinsing a wound or paw that’s
sensitive to road salt.
● Poo bags — apart from
helping you pick up wherever
you are, they can also become
drinking bowls and cover
wounds on paws.
● Local vet information
— knowing who to call in an
emergency away from home is
a life-saver. Apart from online
lists (www.rcvs.org.uk), there
are vet-fi nder apps available
for your phone.
● Tick hooks — an easy
and safe way to remove
these parasites.
● Nappy bin or other
container — for fi lled dog poo
bags when there isn’t a bin
where you’ve been walking.
● Rug or blanket — apart from
keeping you and your dog
warm in an emergency, it can
also become an emergency
stretcher for an injured dog.
● Wet wipes — for any
unexpected cleaning,
especially if your dog likes
rolling in stinky stuff!Stephen Jenkinson reports on a bizarre
incident that will make you look twice at the
contents of your car.
What’s in
your boot?
Max and Dill settle
on their dog duvet
in Chris’s boot.The offending items.Chris with Max and Dill.Images: Chris Richmond.Stephen Jenkinson is
an expert on where
you can go, and what
you can do with your
dog. He’s access
adviser to Your Dog
Magazine, the Kennel
Club, and local
councils across the
UK and abroad. He
lives in Orkney with his
Border Collie, Jess.ABOUT STEPHEN
86 Your Dog November 2017 http://www.yourdog.co.uk86 yd Countryside CS(SW) CC.indd 86 22/09/2017 14:36