Billy squeezes his way into every hug

HELLO there. My name is Billy (aka Bills, Billy Boo Boo) and I’d like to tell you a bit about myself. I am a Cairn Terrier, like Toto in The Wizard of Oz, but obviously a lot cuter and better looking.

When I was a few weeks old, I was left abandoned and tied to a pole, which was actually very kind of those people because I didn’t know how to cross the road, I still don’t know how to cross the road (note to self, learn how to cross the road).

Anyway, I was fostered out to man called Donal, but two months later when my fostering time was up, Donal didn’t want to give me back, (if you met me you’d understand why) and so I remained with Donal for the next two-and-a-half years and was very happy being his shadow.

But, unfortunately, Donal needed to move to Dublin and couldn’t take me with him, so he tried finding me somewhere else to live.

He eventually found a family in east Cork which he was happy with, a mom and her two sons and this felt right for Donal. This was to become my forever home.

I play a very important role in my home. I greet and sniff everyone that comes to our door. I supervise all chores like vacuuming, loading the washing machine and cleaning out the fire.

But my two firm favourites have to be supervising preparing the dinner (one day Karen is going to drop a big lump of steak for me, I just know it and I’ll be there waiting).

And when I get to wake Ciaran and Ryan up in the mornings, I find them under their duvets and lick their faces. They always moan at first but then they begin to laugh.

I enjoy playing games with my family — hide and seek being a personal favourite, when my family hide upstairs and when they call me I come and find them.

Sometimes, I fear my tail may fall off with excitement.

When someone in my family is sad, I feel sad. When they are happy, I feel happy and you’ll always find me squeezing my way into every hug.

Each year, I go on a week’s holiday to Youghal to stay with the boys’ grandparents, Gerry and Kitty. If you haven’t heard of Youghal, it’s by the sea and fab.

I have my daily walk when I greet the nice people in my village and most know me by name.

All in all, life is good here, some might say I’ve a dog’s life and I won’t argue with that.