Politicians and their pets: Councillor Alison Evison

Name?

Susie

Breed?  

Labrador (short-legged)

Age?  

13

How long have you had her? 

12 years three months

Where did you get her? 

We bought her from a family in Kirkcaldy who were unable to look after her anymore when their baby was born.

What do you love about her?

She is always pleased to see me when I get home, standing behind the door with her eyes gleaming and her tail wagging while I find my key. She has always been an affectionate dog, happy to stay close.

What special talents does she have?

Moving through water. We are lucky to live on the Aberdeenshire coast and Susie has always enjoyed spending time in the water. She happily plays in the river near our house, but the best time of all is when she gets to run into the sea at the beautiful St Cyrus Beach to retrieve her stick – of which she becomes very possessive.

What is her most annoying habits?

As Susie has got older, she has developed a stubborn streak. If she doesn’t want to walk further, she won’t. If she doesn’t like where I am going on a walk, she refuses to go. However, if I just stand still and wait patiently, she always comes around in the end and contentedly continues with me on our walk.

What’s the worst thing she has ever done?

Two worst things – not long after Susie came to live with us, she totally destroyed my favourite (and first) pair of red shoes. But she was young then. When she was a bit older she managed to jump up to the kitchen table and grab hold of and then eat an entire Dresdner Stollen which I had bought for Christmas.    

What’s the most ridiculous thing you have bought or done for her?

Susie has two beds now, one in the utility room, where she sleeps at night, and a second one right by the kitchen table, where I have been working since March, so she can stay comfortable while keeping an eye on me. It just didn’t seem right for her to be sitting all day on the hard floor! 

Do you think of yourself as a pet parent or a pet owner?

Pet owner – I have four grown up children and Susie is their pet too. But Susie is definitely part of the family.

What’s your first pet or animal-related memory?

I didn’t have pets when I was a child and so my first pet memory is when we got two rabbits, Nussie and Floppy, for our daughters when we were living in Germany. When we moved back to Scotland, the rabbits came with us. Our children used to sit talking to them in German because they were sure they would not understand English.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?

I can’t imagine any pet other than Susie – she is special.

If you could be any animal, what would you be?

A cat – don’t family cats always seem to have both freedom and guaranteed home comforts waiting for them?