Luna has joined Janus in England for ten days. I have gone to the dogs, or rather, the dogs have gone to me.

I have been dog sitting Luna and Janus's dogs for one week now. Two dogs, one woman. A recipe for dog adventures.

I love these dogs. Benny is a one year old, female "hound" of mixed ancestry and Bim is a four year old, male Jack Russell.

Both dogs need lots of hugs, and make sure that I have the "cleanest" face in Canada, a dubious assertion considering their dietary preferences. They sleep in the bed with me at night, they sleep on my feet when I sit down, they sleep beside my feet at the kitchen sink as I stand to do dishes and the rest of the time they sleep on the couch with all eights pointed to the heavens. When they are not sleeping they are running and jumping. Bim loves his ball and will fetch it back to my lap like a perpetual motion machine. Benny is just a pup and loves to run and jump, she overexcites easily.

At first I tried taking them for walks on the main road, which is a minor highway where the traffic passes at high speeds. Not for me. Now we walk the perimeter of the property several times each morning; more for me than for them mind. We spend many quiet hours outdoors with Benny attached to a long, well-tested lead, and Bim free and running after a ball. Me, I sit in a chair where Benny can lie at my feet when she isn't running and Bim can drop the ball onto my lap for continual throwing.

We have had our moments. On the third day Bim wandered away into the brush at the back of the property. I followed but couldn't find him. After making sure Benny had water and shade, I grabbed my shoes and set out in search of Bim. I found him a quarter mile down the road, but he was not happy to see me. Luckily, I had a bit of cookie with me. Bim could not resist temptation, he succumbed to his cookie addiction and came within my reach. On went the leash and we headed home.

Benny must have been extremely impressed by Bim's ability to escape supervision. The next morning, as I took Bim out to do his business, Benny became so envious she leaped at the window and tore down the drapery. So in we came, Bim and I, to rescue the premises from further destruction. As I opened the door, Benny leapt past me and sped joyfully down the road and towards the highway.

Bim and I headed out after her. We were in hot pursuit, the temperature was 35.4 degrees in the shade.

Benny is not addicted to cookies. Benny does not obey commands. Benny ran around us in circles, but did not come close enough for capture. I was careful not to go anywhere near the highway, for fear Benny would heedlessly leap before a fast moving vehicle. Suddenly Benny ran across the highway, and arrived safely on the other side. She streaked away into a back yard and disappeared. Resolutely, Bim and I followed. Finally Bim stopped to sniff an interesting bit of something disgusting, and Benny appeared from out of nowhere to see what he had found. I made my move. Luck was with me and within seconds Benny was safe and sound at the end of a leash.

Benny had been rolling in an unknown substance that delighted Bim, and set me to gagging. When we arrived home Benny was treated to a luxuriously cool dousing with the backyard hose.

For the rest of that day all three of us lay on the living room floor, waiting for the coolness of night to descend.

Dogs are very interesting in their tastes. They love "fecal matter". They produce copious amounts of it. They eat it and roll in it at every opportunity. I try to collect all the specimens they produce before they have the opportunity to enjoy their own handiwork. I have failed on several occasions. Luckily Luna left me with a bottle of dog shampoo.

Luna's flight arrives back Sunday afternoon. I imagine she will be tired and missing Janus already. She will find the three of us waiting for her. One slightly worn and dishevelled woman, well licked; two dogs, joyful at her arrival and ready for action.