In the wake of my last post and the interests of balanced reporting, I should point out that Didsbury is also a haven for dog enthusiasts. The open banks of the River Mersey (see photos below) and nearby Fletcher Moss public gardens are the most popular pooch hang-outs.
So far we've dodged slobbering Flat-Coated Retrievers, struck up conversation with the golf-loving owner of an ageing West Highland Terrier and been partially mounted by a dog of questionable bloodlines. But the other day Kel and I witnessed our most impressive canine performance yet.
We were jogging along the river when we noticed a man throwing a stick into the water for his mutt to fetch. Nothing out of the ordinary there, you might say, except the 'stick' in question had more in common with a small tree. The dog, undaunted by the task at hand, would dive into the river, open his jaws wide enough to grasp the log and then somehow haul it up the steep bank to his master. This process was repeated about half a dozen times, with the dog showing no signs of weariness or flagging enthusiasm. I am convinced the dog is either insanely strong or insanely stupid; perhaps both in equal doses.
The photos below show our 'special' dog doing his thing in the River Mersey.
