Since childhood we have had pets, particularly cats. Since moving to the South West from London in 1990 I have spent 10 years on a farm near Milton Damerel where I first cared for dogs and larger farm animals. The dogs were a Border C ollie and a German Shepherd. In the past 20 years I have cared , for up to a week at a time, for my friend's dogs they were chihuahuas, King Charles Cavaliers and a lurcher. Currently I live with family where my main animal duties include caring, walking and administering medication to our 10 year old German Shepherd. She is quite active but suffers from the arthritis this breed is prone to which requires anti inflammatory drugs. I take her for 2 walks a day and even at this age, try to teach her new commands.