Hmmm…what to say…? I feel strangely deflated today. Last night I gave two very sad boys the whole speech about how fostering benefits us all. It benefited Louis, I said, by giving him the experience of a loving home, preparing him for his forever family and teaching him ‘table manners’ as it were. And it benefited us by giving us the chance to experience having a dog in the house again with no pressure (thanks, J); an opportunity to learn more about these wonderful creatures and, of course, a temporary family member to love. The trouble is, I’m not sure I’m wholly at one with my philosophy, and it’s a bit of a downer, frankly.

Hubby, being a man (yes, I had noticed), barely acknowledges all this stuff: yesterday we had a dog, now we don’t. End of. But I’m not sure how I feel. I spent the morning washing floors, hoovering, laundering doggy bedding, finding squeaky toys all over the place and generally, it seems, removing all trace of his existence. Sad but true. I thought I’d feel more relieved, after all, poor Louis did have rather dodgy personal habits, bless him, and I’d become no stranger to the mop and bucket. But I miss his presence and I suppose it’ll take a while before I get used to coming in the door without being greeted by a shaking great hulk of a dog hurling himself at me, or that little whiney noise he’d make first thing in the morning when he could hear you coming towards the kitchen. And my Mum’s coming tomorrow and she never got to meet him, which is a shame because I know she would have loved him.

Still, on the bright side, there’s a new family waiting excitedly for him in Italy and they’ve been asked to send news and, if possible, photos, so I’ll get to see the fruit of my labour as it were. I bet he’ll drag his bed over to the sunny spot in their house too, and if they’ve got kids he’ll steal their trainers, take them to his bed then spend ages closing and opening the Velcro with his teeth (strange but true). Here’s wishing this retired athlete the long and happy retirement he deserves. Good luck, Louis.

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