It certainly isn't just small dogs like ours that should be protected against the extreme cold temperatures that we have in our geographical area, but large dogs as well, breeds with very short haircoats, breeds without a double layer of fur, such as greyhounds and some hounds. We used to come across German long-haired pointers, beautifully graceful dogs bred as hunting companions on occasion years ago, and the short-haired breed as well.They can run like the wind, but they do become very cold with exposure to sub-zero temperatures.

On our woodland hike yesterday Jackie and Jillie ran rambunctiously ahead of us as they usually do, and as they usually do when they see or hear another dog somewhere ahead they pick up speed and vociferously proclaim their presence, lords of the forest. This time they encountered a brightly-coated short-haired pointer, the first one we've seen in years. A friendly dog but patrician and aloof at the same time. It had little interest in our two little yappers and was anxious to continue meandering through the woods.

The young woman accompanying her beautiful dog was as sweet-natured as it was, and proud and possessive of her companion. She was also very aware that she was companion to a hunting dog whose instincts might drive it to suddenly absent itself when it sensed a possibility of prey nearby. It would, of course, race after foxes, coyotes, raccoons and rabbits if any were foolhardy enough to show themselves, including squirrels.

So she was equipped with an electronic device linking her to the other part of the communication system worn by her dog, and if he decided to race after some woodland creature, she could recall it. She rarely uses the shock element of the device, she divulged. She discovered that the high-pitched sound it emits to bring the dog back to her was all she needed.

When we exited the ravine to access our street, we saw our friend and neighbour Serge emerging from his SUV to retrieve his mail at the group mailbox, and he was using one of those multiple- rubber-footed canes. We suddenly realized we hadn't seen him for awhile, not that we see many of our neighbours outdoors much during the winter season. He had, he informed us, broken his hip and was now in recovery.

Serge is slightly built, but solid enough in his early 70s. For a while when he was still married, he did line dancing with his wife, he went out to the gym regularly and enrolled in adult pool-exercise classes and I'd see him there when I was taking our granddaughter to swimming classes for young children, years ago. He's also much given to travelling, so he gets about. He had been trying on a pair of jeans at a local shop, and while he was in a change room, one leg in the jeans, the other on the way, he fell. When the paramedics arrived they experienced problems lifting him out of the change room and decided to tie his legs together as they manoeuvred him out of the tight space.

He was in the hospital for three weeks, then transferred to an intensive healthcare facility for another two weeks. His wife, long remarried, dedicated some time to helping him out once he returned home. We berated him mildly for not informing us of what had occurred, so we could be of help to him, as he has been to us in the near past.