The more the merrier

I had an elderly Terrier called Eve, who was getting on a bit, in fact one night my daughter Stephanie and I thought she had died because she was so still. Thinking she was dead, I bent down to pick her up when she turned and bit me.

We decided to get a new puppy so that Eve could teach it how to behave. We got a mongrel, Sprite, who grew into the ugliest but best-behaved dog. Sprite and Eve became best friends and often played with Tag, an enthusiastic, huge German Shepherd.

But tragically Sprite was killed one Sunday on the main road outside my house. A month later we acquired Mabel, a three-month-old Springer Spaniel who wet herself all down my front when she first met Tag.

Having got another dog we would not be without a dog when Eve died. Stephanie felt Mabel would be lonely if Eve died so we ought to get another dog for her, hence we ended up with Bobby, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cross Lhasa Apso. He hangs on Mabel’s tail when she runs to chase a ball. Soon after he arrived my friend asked me to care for her retired Greyhound, Boo, who she could no longer care for.

Stephanie has now left home and acquired a miniature Yorkshire Terrier who fits under Bobby's tummy. The four dogs were all asleep the other day, Bobby curled up in between Boo's legs, Mabel with her legs around Bobby and Pablo, The mini dog on top of Boo. I love them all and they bring us joy everyday.

Heather Smith, Doncaster.