Meet Maya

Two weeks ago - or was it three - we were asked if we would be willing to adopt a dog. After Nehli died almost four years ago I had been rather outspoken in my desire not to take on a puppy again. Despite being a dog-household, I just couldn't see how an exuberant puppy could fit into our lives at the moment. With the hours we work, reduced energy, we just felt it wouldn't be fair on the pup or us.

But we missed having a dog around the place. Missed the companionship, the joyful doggy embraces, and the living breathing presence of another creature.

Because of this, and despite some of the advantages of not having a dog (no wondering what to do when we went away, no picking up doggy-do, no worrying about feeding), we agreed to adopt a dog that urgently needed rehoming.

Enter Maya. A Border Collie x Labrador. (Someone knew my weakness for Border Collies when they asked us to consider). A gentle and generally calm dog whose main drawback is that she is already twelve years old. We had thought an older dog would be ideal ... we just hadn't thought that old.

But she loves gentle walks,

meeting the family,

and even playing in puddles with The Most Charming Grandson#1.

She is friendly with other dogs, keeps her business off the lawn, travels well, walks on a lead without tearing our arms out of their sockets, and doesn't expect a whole lot of exercise.