I must congratulate Ralph Freeman on his comment about people reporting what they, wrongly, see as mis-treatment of boaters' dogs, writes Ann Grainger.
Like I should imagine many other single-hander continuous cruisers, a dog is my only companion, and as such is much loved, spoilt and very well cared for indeed, and for those 'know-alls' as Ralph so accurately described them to suggest anything otherwise is an insult.
Too thick to realise
These people are obviously too thick to realise that the boat is the dog's home, where it feels most secure, and needless to say where everything is for its comfort.
I too have been reported to the police for leaving my beloved Cocker Spaniel in my boat without any windows open and in distress owing to the warm weather, according to such a 'know-all'. Notwithstanding that at 52ft the boat is extremely airy and Millie is virtually on the floor next to cold water, and if this same 'know-all' possessed the common sense to look he/she would have seen the opposite sliding windows open. Also, he/she obviously had not the gumption to realise that no one leaves towpath side windows open on a moored narrowboat, it being an invitation to thieves.
Had the sense to notice
Even then I was only away from the boat about 40 minutes, and arrived back at the boat to see the police there, who had had the sense to notice the open windows, and when I invited them in, greeted by a very un-distressed Millie. They shared my opinion of the person who reported the 'distressed' dog.