Paws

I visited the animal rescue centre in Doha, which was as emotionally straining as you might expect.

One of the girls I went with has adopted two of the dogs, who will live with her parents in Auvergne. They are only 7 months old and are sisters.

The dogs all seem to be saluki crosses, which you would expect. Very pretty.

One bitch inside, Milady, had just one eye. She had been shot. Another had five stunning little puppies.

Two or three seem to be recovering from illness or surgery.

In total, five or six have been adopted.

We took five of the dogs for a walk. Mine made a bee-line for something about 250m off, following her nose.

Dried out bones in the desert! How did she sniff them out?

She set off again. 50m away... a desiccated cat corpse.

And cats. So many in the shelter.

These really broke my heart.

Yes, there was one with no eyes. There was a black, yowling cat whom I thought was half siamese.A few were very shy. Most were desperate for attention.

I wish. I wish. I wish.