Comments on: pet profile

By: Keith Taylor

Keith Taylor — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:13:38 +0000

Cara Emma,
You sound as though you are an exceptional woman, just like my wife, Veronica. We have bought a piece of land near Rio de Moinhos, in the Aljustrel district, sight unseen (we live in South Africa) and hope to move there some time this year (2012). Veronica has Portuguese blood in her veins (her father was born in Lisboa), while I am British (I was born in Newmarket, County of West Suffolk and imported to South Africa at age 18 months), so that she has managed to secure a Portuguese passport and Numbro Fiscal.
Like you, we have picked up strays. Include among the ubiquitous cats and dogs a baby bat, hedgehogs and some snakes. Veronica was a city girl, but when she met me she had to learn to lose her apprehension of all the denizens of the bush when I showed her that I have no fear of them and would hand her snakes and other “creepy crawlies” to examine. They were all non-venomous, obviously. I handle the dangerous ones and although I have been bitten on more than one occasion, that won’t put me off.
Among our pets have been donkeys (among the sweetest, most lovable creatures imaginable) and countless birds including chickens, geese, diamond doves, singing quails, guinea fowl, lovebirds, pheasants, white doves, go-’way birds (grey louries) and also guinea pigs and rabbits.
We currently have two Bull mastiff X Great Danes and they will be coming to Portugal with us.
Fortunately, Veronica is quite fluent in Portuguese and I am learning the lingo (Eu falo um muito pouco). She also has family in Portugal, though we have never met them and they can’t wait for us to arrive, urging Veronica to hurry up and get there with every e-mail, so we do not anticipate encountering most of your obstacles and when we do, we will have support.
We are both very conscious of the environment and I have worked a ‘green’ way around almost every condition and situation imaginable. Feel free to ask if you have any problems in this regard: I’m sure to find an answer for you.
By the way, I am very impressed with with your blog: Keep it up!

By: Helder

Helder — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:44:43 +0000

It was grand to read about Dingo. What a typical story! – And yet so sensible and great!

By: Emma

Emma — Sun, 16 May 2010 11:46:45 +0000

it´s funny how they adopt you… it´s a dog´s sixth sense for the batty woman who collects dogs, I´m one too apparently

By: Mariola

Mariola — Thu, 13 May 2010 08:13:53 +0000

I’m not a permanent resident in Portugal- yet! But whenever I go to my place over there a loppy eared black dog comes for a visit. She craves affection and of course food! When I brought my own dog over last summer they formed an easy tolerance and I fear that when I make the move I will be considered the batty woman who collects dogs. Loppy ears gave me a fright when she appeared with her pups and left them at my house the day before I was due to go back to the UK. Suffice to say my husband wasn’t impressed when I suggested bringing them home, luckily by the end of the day her owner (she has one- hurray!) turned up and them home. Only just discovered your blog today Emma and I’m adding it to my favourites!

By: Amy Jo'

Amy Jo' — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:19:56 +0000

Luv it! This blog is so sweet it made me smile & bought back memories of my grandfather. Stray dogs were renowned for following my grandfather home, many of which were later adopted into the family by my reluctant grandmother. Your pets sound as though they are packed full of character and charm, your blog was fantastic to read. I have two cats myself,Mojo & Oscar. Pets really make a home a home, i never really get people who never had or have pets…

By: Doreen Payne

Doreen Payne — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:05:57 +0000

love your pets! I have a dog and 5 cats. one of my cats are having kittens.
I enjoy reading your blog!

By: Emma

Emma — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:05:29 +0000

Thanks chris… how’s turkey? If I was there I’d be eating baklava every day…mmm… but I don’t envy you the language (although after more than 10 years I still remember tesheker ederim and is beer still 5? or maybe it’s bir)

By: Chris Chesher

Chris Chesher — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:06:29 +0000

Yours is a wonderful blog Emma, I get great pleasure from reading it because I’m in a pretty similar situation, but in Turkey. Currently the heat is stopping all my attempts at doing anything constructive so I’m lazing and dipping in the pool now and then.

By: Dee Hawa

Dee Hawa — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:32:26 +0000

sooo sweet, here in southern Spain I’ve 5 dogs and 2 cats all characters and all abandoned at some time in their lives, my smallest dog even came free with 6 chickens I just happened to
be buying at the time! Bless your “crew”