A Week of Pets

This week was a week of pets ....

* First of all, I was driving south along Nishi Odori between Otaru Zushi and Anderson when I saw something strange. The traffic was slowing because of a red light so I had time to look around and I saw an old man taking his 'pet' for a walk. He was holding a leash and the pet was behind some azalea bushes - I could just see its back over the top of the bushes. I thought "Wow! That's the biggest Golden Retriever I have ever seen!" for I could see a golden-beige back. Another part of my brain realized it couldn't be so large because the biggest dogs I know are either pure white or pure black (Pyraneese or Newfoundland {sorry if the spelling is wrong!}). Suddenly the pet walked out from behind the bushes and I did a double take - it was a HORSE!!! A miniature horse!

-- Actually, I have seen some other strange pets like this being taken for a walk on a leash. When I lived in Tokyo a man was walking a ferret, and I've seen a cat and a rabbit on leashes in Banpakukinen Koen! --

* The next pets were at Joyful Honda Arakawaoki. The small animal section allows some pets to walk about in the shop. You can find a giant tortoise and recently a lovely white hen (chicken) that allows you to pat her. I really like this chicken and go looking for her. She is usually walking about so please go try to find her.

At J.H. Arakawaoki I also found a new friend. As I was paying at the cash register, I heard flapping wings and suddenly felt a weight on my shoulder. A little yellow parrot landed on me! I was quite surprised but it was really cute.

Why have I been in the pet shop a lot recently? I will tell you later! :)

leash - （動物をつなぐ）革ひも, 綱 -- 《英》 lead
azalea - つつじ
realize - …を悟る, はっきり理解する, 実感する
do a double take - はっと見直す;振り返って見る
miniature - 縮小模型
tortoise - （陸上または淡水の）カメ
pat - 〈人・動物（の体の一部）を〉軽くたたく, なでる
flap - 〈翼が〉羽ばたく;〈鳥が〉羽ばたいて飛び回る