An Armful of Animals 
- Malcolm D Welshman

Tell me a bit about yourself.
I’m a Yorkie-cross terrier found wandering the streets of Birmingham when I was about seven months old.
I actually appeared on a Nat Geo TV show called Leader of the Pack.
It was filmed over in Madrid so it meant me being flown out for the show.
There, three couples were put through their doggy paces by the US dog whisperer, Cesar Millan.
He assessed how good they were interacting with me eg when we first met up, feeding, grooming.
In the event, Bossman and his wife were considered to have the best empathy with me and they have hence been my forever home these past seven years.

What was the inspiration for the book?
It all revolves around the story of the African bush dog called Poucher.
Last year, Bossman started writing the fourth in the fictional series about the young vet, Pet Mitchell.
He was looking for ideas and started to rummage through a wooden chest of old scripts and jottings.
There he came across a script all about Poucher which he’d written well over 18 years ago and which he’d forgotten about.
He sat on the floor, started to read it and became completely engrossed, almost to the point that he wondered whether he’d been the one who’d written it.
Bowled over it seems. At that point, he had a light bulb moment.
Why not write a memoir? Poucher would be an excellent starting point. And that’s how this memoir of his has evolved.
I’ve seen him get misty-eyed when re-reading that story so it must be very close to his heart.

Are there plans for a future book?
One very simple answer. No.
Seems Bossman feels he’s used the best of his experiences and hasn’t additional ones worthy of another book.

Finally, and most importantly...What was your human’s most embarrassing moment?
Well, there have been several times when Bossman has played the fool, intentionally or otherwise.
But one stands out in particular.

The British Red Cross in his home town of Crewkerne, was holding a fund-raising day in the square.
The shop manager discovered a white rabbit onesie outfit complete with huge floppy pink ears and furry bob tail. And – you’ve guessed – asked Bossman if he’d dress up in it and take part in the day’s activities.
Turns out, he was seen doing his best rabbit hop across the pedestrian precinct when a friendly Labrador decided this could be fun and games, gave chase, bowled him over, gripped his tail between his teeth and gave him a thorough shake.

I still shake with mirth thinking about it.