Cheddar's First Proper Vet Visit in Hang Dong

Cheddar came to us from a shelter outside Hang Dong last winter, and in all that time she had never seen a proper vet. She is a mixed-breed girl, almost six, with one ear up and one ear down, so I wanted her first check-up to go well.

The clinic was small, with a waiting room that smelled of disinfectant and a receptionist who gave her a biscuit before anyone asked. Cheddar went straight under my chair and refused to come out, which the vet found very funny. She checked out fine and weighed in at a sturdy 18 kilos.

Then came the injection. I held her steady and talked nonsense in Russian, which she seemed to tolerate. She barely flinched, then wagged her tail at the nurse as if she had won a prize.

On the way home she sat in the back seat looking very proud of herself. I think she was the only one in the car who had enjoyed the morning.