Well, sometimes you come across a news article, and surprisingly one *not* behind a stupid paywall...

It's a Dutch article, so I don't know if it translates well with a browser that supports that option... 📰

https://www.ad.nl/redactie/2026/buurt-helpt-oude-vrouw-door-via-schema-s-haar-hondje-uit-te-laten/

The story is about Joke, age 89, who has an 16+ year old dog, Senna. Joke fell a few months ago. It seemed OK, until she fell again later that day. She feared that Senna would have to go live with one of her kids, until... A neighbor walked Senna for her, and they stated a group for her! There are now 20+ volunteers, aged 12-82, who have this whole schedule to walk Senna for Joke. And several also pay a visit to Joke for a chat with a cup of tea. They even have a chat group, and if one can't make it, there are always others, ready to walk the senior dog.

Maybe it's my emotional state of mind... But something as beautiful as this, I had some tears in my eyes when I read it...

And maybe, it's making me a bit hopeful too... Should I have more hip issues, that there will be folks in my neighborhood, who would also love to support me with Koa. As I love my parents to bits, but I didn't know if the way they deal with dogs will be very beneficial to Koa...

Anywhoo... Just wanted to share some positive news this early Sunday morning!

#GoodNews

Na flinke val vreest Joke (89) dat Senna weg moet, maar dan staat de buurt op

Dat buurtbewoners naar elkaar omkijken is steeds minder vanzelfsprekend in Nederland. Logisch, dat Joke (89) na een val denkt: wie gaat mijn hondje Senna uitlaten, nu ik het niet meer kan? Ze vreest het beestje kwijt te raken. Maar dan blijkt Joke er niet alleen voor te staan. Integendeel.

@PixysJourney
Is this the same Joke who has Gentle?
@zaivala
Nope! 😉 It is an elderly lady with an elderly dog in the news story. 😊
She just shares the name with the breeder of Koa and his family. Joke has three female dogs, Lotus (the first gall she started the breeding with), Aimy (one of Lotus her pups), and Gentle (a great grandpup to Lotus, and a grandpup to Aimy).
Sorry if this was confusing due to the ladies sharing the same first name.