Today is a very bittersweet day. Lois got a phone call from SA Guide Dogs, asking if she can go up to Johannesburg in November for training with a new dog. Now, Leila (her current dog), is getting on a bit. She has been with us for almost 9 years, and it is time for her to retire gracefully.

I am very excited about Lois getting a new dog (I wonder what he/she will be), but it of course does mean that Leila is going to be officially retired! We do have the option of keeping her, which we will do without a doubt. Leila is such a special dog and has really become part of the family, it is very sad seeing her get old, but as least she can become a lady of leisure for the rest of her years.

This does of course mean that we will now have four dogs. We originally just had Leila, then we got Cassius – the Golden Retriever to keep Leila company. Then when Leila went to work with Lois, Cassius got bored and destructive, so we got Calvin – the Golden Retriever X Toy Pom (don’t ask!).

It has been all well and good with the three dogs, but I think we are going to be living in interesting times…

Please, nobody tell Leila that she is going to be retired – she doesn’t know yet!

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