Sorry to hear about Seamus Kendall. We lost our dog Lily eighteen months ago and I have to say, it's been tough. We need to get out into the world (back to the US -woo-hoo!) and then we get more dogs. Two this time.

I believe all animals are spiritual, but canids of every type are humankind's soulmates, from the mighty persecuted and hunted wolf, that pursued, hounded and trapped elemental spirit of the land the fox, our own domestic dogs in their glorious diversity. As a species we've grown up together with them, evolved with them and they are a part of our societies, our fellow travellers through time and space during our precarious existence on our wonderful blue marble . . .

Whereas us humans are prone to our many failings, our myopic worldviews, intolerances and prejudices of all manner, our dogs see past this capricious, transient veneer and into our true selves. They recognise us a spiritual beings and the best of recognise them as the same. Dogs truly do understand. Better than any other living creature on the planet, dogs understand us.