ANIMAL MAGIC: PETS OF THE WEEK

Feb 18 2007

IVES

This West Highland terrier lives with Kayleigh Ellis Dickson, her brother David and parents Fairlie and Eileen in Renfrew.

Where did you get him?

From a family in Wishaw 11 years ago.

What does he eat?

He loves chicken and tinned dog food. He gets Markies as a treat and has been known to eat beetroot.

Where is his name from?

He is named after Flying Officer Ives in the film The Great Escape, David's favourite film.

What does he like doing?

He likes digging a hole in the garden and burying his bone.

How does he behave around people?

He likes people but growls until they clap him or tickle his wee belly.

What's the oddest thing he has done?

We left the gate open once and he escaped to his granny's house - two and a half miles away.

SKY

This collie-Dalmatian cross lives with 13-year-old David MacLennan in Tain, Ross-shire.

Where did you get her?

My mum got her from a family who had puppies to give away.

What does she eat?

She loves chicken and carrots as treats but at meal times she has Pal Complete dry food and a small meat pouch.

Where is her name from?

Her name came from the big blue sky - the sun was shining the day we got her.

What does she like doing?

She loves going for her walks or out in the car. She also likes watching who is passing the house - she's a nosy parker.

How does she behave around people?

She loves people and children. She is very friendly.

What's the oddest thing she has done?

She does lots of funny things to make us laugh. If mum goes away for a few days, Sky always gets sick and ends up at the vet.

SKYE

This three-year-old springer spaniel lives with Jamie, Lynne and Rachel Campbell in Renfrew.

Where did you get her?

From a police handler who lives next door. She had failed her police training and we volunteered to give her a home.

What does she eat?

She gets dry dog food twice a day but she would eat anything given the chance.

Where is her name from?

She already had her name.

What does she like doing?

Her favourite thing in the world is to play fetch. She also loves getting as wet and mucky as possible and as soon as she's off the lead she bounds towards the first puddle or pond she sees and jumps straight in.

How does she behave around people?

She is the friendliest dog ever. She loves people but is not too keen on other dogs.

What's the oddest thing she has done?

She crept into gran's bedroom, stole her pill box from her dressing table and hid it in a bucket in the kitchen.

OSCAR

This seven-year-old cat lives with Helen White in Cambuslang, near Glasgow.

Where did you get him?

From my sister Catherine's friend whose cat had kittens.

What does he eat?

He is a very greedy cat and eats lots of chicken, tuna and crunchies in large quantities.

Where is his name from?

My next door neighbour Isabel suggested it and I thought it suited him because as a kitten he was very wild, as in Oscar Wilde.

What does he like doing?

Snoring by the radiator and when he's out in the garden he likes chasing birds and squirrels.

How does he behave around people?

He's quite shy around people he doesn't know and usually disappears upstairs.

What's the oddest thing he has done?

He once brought a huge magpie in through the cat flap. Thankfully the bird was not hurt and flew out when we opened the door.