When the phone beeped, he blinked, then held it where he could see what was going on. Yes, that was a sheepdog. He nodded - then realised nods weren't audible. "I... honestly don't know how to use these phones, either," he said, "so you're more skilled than I am. She looks like a very pleasant dog from the picture. I never had pets."

The detail wasn't surprising to him, even as it came up. He remembered being an orphan, so how could an orphan have a pet?