Local newspapers and their websites can be a real source of help and useful advice.

Take, for example, two stories published recently that have helped me plan my life better now that lockdown has started to ease and we are all able to get out and about more.

The first report was taken from information found on the website doggiepubs.org.uk and is a list of Cheshire drinking establishments with ‘popular’ beer gardens where your dog will feel at home.

Essentially, it is a list of dog-friendly pubs with beer gardens – to comply with Covid restrictions – in and around the area.

Then we move on to the story about those with dogs who want to plan a day out during the pandemic.

This report lists some destinations in and around Cheshire and is based on information compiled by ABC Boat Hire.

I found both of these lists really helpful as I now know where to avoid like the plague. I think it’s fair to say I will not be visiting them under any circumstances.

So no, I won’t be going to The Salt Barge in Marston; The Roebuck Inn in Mobberley; The Cross Keys in Knutsford or the The Kings Lock in Middlewich or any other pub on the list.

Neither will I be going to any of the Cheshire ‘beauty spots’ that allow dogs to roam free.

And the reason? I don’t like dogs. I don’t trust dogs – any dogs – and I have no desire to be anywhere near dogs.

Now I fully realise that many dog owners will now regard me as something akin to the son of the Devil and will not be able to comprehend my antipathy towards their pets.

I have a very personal reason for not liking or trusting dogs but for the avoidance of doubt, let me point you to a blog written by Jenna Stregowski which details some of the reasons why people may not like your dog.

This list isn’t exhaustive by any means but it is a good place to start.

1. You don’t pick up after your dog (or you do pick up but leave the little black bag of dog mess lying on the pavement or hanging in a bush like some kind of evil Christmas decoration).

It sounds simple to pick up your dog’s mess but a quick walk around the roads where I live give a clear indication this is a simple task many dog owners still haven’t mastered.

It’s your dog, it’s your mess. Just pick it up and dispose of it properly.

2. Your dog barks excessively. My next-door neighbour has a little rat-like dog which seems to spend an inordinate amount of time in the back garden. Every time I step out of my back door, it starts barking its little head off.

Common sense dictates that if you are a dog owner, your neighbours don’t need or want to hear your dog barking on and on.

3. You don’t have control of your dog. As Jenna Stregowski says: “When dogs bounce around and act hyperactive, it affects everyone around them.

“When dogs jump on people, it’s annoying, uncomfortable, and someone could get hurt.” I really don’t have anything to add to that.

4. You let your dog roam off its lead. This is one of my pet hates (if you’ll excuse the pun).

First of all, it’s simply not safe to let your dog roam free. I think we’ve established that not everyone likes dogs and there are people like me who are actually scared of them.

You may say (and believe) your dog is friendly and ‘just wants to play’. But how do I know that? Just keep your dog on a lead.

5. Your dog invades the personal space of others. Many people, me included, are irritated, frightened and annoyed by a dog which is jumping up, licking, pawing, sniffing, begging, or otherwise invading their personal space.

I don’t care how much you love your dog, that doesn’t give it the right to start sniffing me.

Here’s the thing. I don’t really blame the dogs, I blame the owners. If you’ve bought a dog, it’s your responsibility to make sure it’s well behaved.

I’ve suggested this before, but if people are prepared to fork out £2,000 or £3,000 for a dog, perhaps it’s time to bring back the dog licence and a proper registration process with compulsory chipping.

How does £500 a licence sound?