Do dogs have a conscience?

Do you like to start the day with a good stretch?

I do. I think it sets one up just perfectly for whatever the next 24 hours might have in store.

Now on Christmas Day, as I'm sure you'll agree, the biggest excitement is all about the turkey.

I expect that yesterday many of my canine pals scored at least a morsel or two from the traditional Christmas roast. Perhaps you did it the conventional, and dare I say rather boring way, by hanging around in the kitchen waiting for a moment's clumsiness on the part of the humans. Or maybe you worked hard at your "me is starving" look as you sat beside the dinner table. 

Or did your piece of turkey, like mine, come courtesy of a wee adventure?

So there I was trotting along the River Dee, enjoying a Christmas Day leg stretch with Gail and her friend Kirsty. As the humans were nattering away and ignoring me, my attention was caught by an interesting smell, and to pursue it I turned off the main path, up a narrow passage away from the river and into a garden.

It seems that when Gail and Kirsty realised I was not directly in front of them, they were unsure which direction I'd gone, so while Gail ran on ahead, Kirsty ventured up the passageway and spotted me.

Just at that moment, I pinpointed the source of the alluring aroma - an open doorway to a big kitchen where Christmas dinner was being prepared.  So of course I went in through the door.

Kirsty tried to follow but was immediately shooed away by a panicky lady shouting "NO NO, you can't come in, this is a care home, we have to shield the residents!" 

Did I ever mention before that I am a little bit deaf these days? It is my story, and I am sticking to it, that I did not hear Kirsty when she called me. The care home lady seemed anxious to have me leave her kitchen, and so she picked up a slice of turkey from one of the dinner plates and waved it in my face, and naturally I followed her as she walked out of the building. Whereupon the lady handed the turkey slice to Kirsty who relayed me back to the river path and Gail. 

Kirsty explained what had happened and asked Gail if she should now give me the piece of meat. My long suffering owner sighed and said yes, I suppose you might as well. Then she clamped on my lead.

Do I feel guilty that one of the care home residents might been deprived of their full dinner portion?

Does a dog have a conscience?