A slow, cheshire grin spreads across Sadie's face as Frank leans against her. "Are you sure?" she asks, pulling her hand away for a moment in a parody of second thoughts before reaching up to stroke the soft fur behind the dog's ear.

But why should Frank be having all the fun? "Try it with mine," Sadie says, and her fox immediately heaves himself off of the dog's shoulder and wriggles up to Frank, tail wagging.