Do you have a pet at home?

We have a labrador. She makes us laugh every day, is very intelligent and much loved by all.

We also have a labrador. She is the sweetest friend I could ever imagine.

I too walked my dog on the beach when I lived in a village on the NE coast.
I now live in a Midlands suburb, not to so nice, but am near a good off- the- lead public park.
I lost my dear lurcher recently and have now been given another dog to love.

We also have a cat who loves the gas fire and our bed in that order but doesn't at any time love us.

What sort is your new dog Alexa?

I have 2 dogs at home. One is a sheepdog cross who we got as a puppy from a refuge. She is now 8 1/2. The other is celebrating his 4th week anniversary with us today. He is 7 1/2 and blind, also a sort of sheepdog.

In the past I've had two Westies and two Cairns. I love them because of their attitude.

At the moment both of them ar laying on the floor close to my desk. The blind one who is now called Ronnie, was in a refuge because he bit a 7 year old boy at his owners' home. He was asleep in his basket when the child jumped in and disturbed him. The family wanted him to be put to sleep but, I'm not sure why or how, he ended up in the refuge and their vet found out he was blind. The strange thing is that you wouldn't really know it. When we got him home he ran around the house without umping into anything. If he pays with a ball and it rolls away he can't easily find it and today he ran into Ruby. When we go out at night I shine the torch beam in front of him so that he gets a sensation of light. I also leave some lights on at night.

One of my Cairns went blind so we learned how to cope with her condition and it was also the reason I chose him.

I'd just like to add, for those who don't have a dog at the moment, there are lots of dogs in refuges who have lost their homes because of the death of their owners or they have gone into care homes. Ronnie has settled in very well and is what the French call a loulou! (sweetheart)

We have a jack Russell/pomeranian. He is 9 years old. He is very good company - still wants to sit on our laps even though he's no longer lap sized. He is great with the grandchildren but not always so good with other dogs. We love him dearly

Cairn terriers make wonderful pets. We had our Robbie as a puppy in 1988 and he was nearly 15 when he died. When we felt ready to have another dog in 2013 we looked for another cairn terrier but could only find a cairn/poodle cross, we called him Teddy. Like Robbie, Teddy knows exactly when it is walk time and he stares at us intently. Robbie went one better, our son Steve lived with us then and he used to walk him on Sundays, Robbie used to sit in front of Steve on Sundays, how he knew we don’t know. Robbie also used to sit by the front door several minutes before DH arrived home from work, the time varied depending on what job he was doing but Robbie always knew when he was on his way. Labradors are lovely too, our neighbour when we had Robbie had a Labrador and a Westie and we often walked our dogs together, the terriers were definitely in charge.

I would love to have a dog but one day my office will call us back (worked from home since last March) and the poor thing would be alone for nearly 10 hours a day.
David the Lodger (guinea pig) won’t mind so much.

The other dogs mentioned since I posted sound wonderful too. We come across lots of different dogs when we are walking Teddy, they are all lovely with their own personalities. My mother didn’t like dogs so we never had one but DH is a dog lover and he was the one who instigated getting a dog. Thank goodness he did because our two dogs have added so much to our family life.

Nannie, my new dog is a Jack Russell. He is a dear little soul who, unlike my lurcher , sleeps in my bed with me.

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At the moment I am just getting over having my lovely Poppy (Lhasa Apso) put to sleep she was 12 yrs old and was a rescue dog,the rehoming centre nearest cannot take any applications at the moment.
Oliver the Great my big British Blue cat has taken up residence in the lounge now he does't get chased out by Pops,he always comes and finds me when he comes in from visiting my next door neighbour to check what food he has on offer.Here is my big man resting in the sunshine this morning.

We lost our two older dogs in the last three months but we still have our little rescue dog. Maggy is a Yorkie x Fox Terrier and is a kind gentle little dog despite cruel treatment from her previous owners.
We also have a cat called Boris because he looks like Boris Johnson, he is white with ginger ear tips . This was long before BJ became Prime Minister.

Alexa you will have lots of fun with your JR they are great characters.

glammanana what a beauty!!

I grew up in a family of dog lovers and only briefly as a young adult lived in a dog free home. Since 1974 I’ve shared my life with 8 dogs and three foster dogs. Not all at once, but we have had three here during our period of fostering.
We’ve had two ‘bought’ puppies in the past but mostly rescued cross breeds/mongrels from the local shelter.
Our current two are an almost three year old spaniel and a Labrador puppy. Lots more cleaning of doors and floors but I can’t imagine a dog free life

I have two lovely cats that I miss, being stuck overseas for lockdown. They would make so much difference to my quality of life if they were here with me.

We have a much loved cat, who loves us back.

Yesterday, we had a small bird that took up residence in the workshop apparently preferring the risk of being caught by the cat to that of freezing to death outside.

Cat told it was OUR BIRD - seems to have worked as no dead bird or bits thereof lying around and the refugee from the frost seems to have got out the way he got in.

I've had dogs my whole life, both pedigrees and mixed breeds of all shapes and sizes. I currently have 3 Pugs keeping me company.

Adorable cat photos GagaJo and Glammanana

I have a much-loved cat who loves me in return and spends all day and night with me. I could not have got through this past year without her, but she was most indignant when I left the house to post a letter! I will have to ease her in gently once I start going out regularly.

GagaJo Your cat looks very much like my lovely Lottie, who was killed by a car 3 years ago.

Ah she is very sweet Sparklefizz. I am sorry you lost her too soon. I have lost too many cats in the past so the pampered pair above are house cats now. They are very very lucky, being Chinese street cats made good. I miss them!

I got a golden-doodle puppy in the summer of 2019, the house was too quiet after my last child moved out. Everyone said I was crazy how a dog would just tie us down, now that we were free to travel or do whatever we wanted .. It was rough during the early months of puppy training , but am I ever glad we got him!! During this year of Covid he gets us out for walks , I’ve met a neighbour that I never would’ve met Otherwise and who is now my daily socially distant walking partner . Our conversations and walks together with our dogs are keeping me sane ! He’s just brought So much joy and laughter and playfulness into the dreary life in the lockdowns we have had.
He is my shadow always by my side❤️

We have a Jack Russell/Border Terrier cross who is 9 years old. Her name is Lottie and she is currently snuggled up on the sofa with her head on a cushion. Mr R takes her out every morning and I join him most days. I too have become friends with a neighbour because we both have dogs and when we meet we have a lovely 'safe' distance chat and put the world to rights.
Our life wouldn't be the same without our little Lottie!

We have two rescue Russian Blue brothers. They’re about 14yo, we’ve had them 4.5 yrs. One of them isn’t too well at the moment, having had a tumour removed.

They’re the most affectionate, loving and daft creatures you can imagine, without a brain cell between them.