Butter Learns to Swim at Last

Butter has been nervous around water since the day we brought her home, so when we found a quiet stretch of beach near Phuket Town with small, gentle waves, I packed a float vest and hoped for the best. She is a strong, muscular Thai Bangkaew girl, so I was optimistic, but optimism only goes so far.

She walked in up to her chest, paddled in a panic for two seconds, then turned around and grinned at me. By the end of the afternoon she was swimming in little circles and chasing a ball I threw into the shallows. I was so excited I nearly dropped my phone in the sea.