Mijas Bobby?

[artwebster]

With all the tribulation in my life at the moment I have tended to take little notice of things going on around me.

Last night I caught the tail end of a television news story that really tugged at my heart strings and had me cuddling my dogs a little tighter.

There is a small golden brown dog living in Mijas cementario, refusing to leave because his owner is buried there. A picture of the owner showed that he had been a relatively young person.

Our Spanish hosts have, once again, put to shame their sad reputation as being indifferent to the suffering of animals because this little dog is being well cared for, fed, watered and even has a ground level niche for use as a kennel. Although there is a sizeable British contingent in Mijas, it does not appear to be in the front of the queue to look after the dog's welfare.

Whether we have another Greyfriars Bobby here or whether this little dog will eventually be tempted away by one of the many people who so obviously have taken him to their hearts, I don't know, but I do know that here we have an example of the devotion, loyalty and love that a dog can demonstrate and the care, affection and concern that a community can feel for a small member of it.

If I find more details, I will post them here but, for once, I wish I had been paying more attention to what was in front of me.