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Elderly couple wrapped in a cream knit blanket by a crackling stone fireplace with a Basset Hound in front. 39 / 40

Grandma and Grandpa Wrapped Up in One Big Blanket by the Fire. Rufus Stood Guard.

AI imagebasset houndfireplacewinter

A fire crackles in a stone hearth, throwing amber light across a room crammed with books, baskets and framed photos. Grandma and Grandpa sit snuggled together under one oversized cream knit blanket, pulled up around their shoulders like a cocoon. She smiles in her green cardigan, and he grins behind his glasses in a dark sweater. Rufus sits squarely in front of them, facing forward with a solemn, regal stare, his brown leather collar shining in the firelight. A lamp glows on the side table next to a cup of pens, a tissue box and a stack of firewood waiting for later.

A warm fireplace is a favorite spot for many pets on a cold evening, but it calls for a few precautions. A sturdy screen keeps sparks and embers from reaching fur, paws and curious noses. Dogs that lie very close to the fire can overheat or get uncomfortably dry skin, so make sure they can move away to a cooler spot. Ashes, fire starters and certain wood treatments can be harmful if a dog licks or chews them, so keep the hearth tidy. If you use a gas or wood fire, a working carbon monoxide detector protects everyone in the house, two-legged and four.

Nights like this are what winter is for: a little firelight, a shared blanket and a faithful friend sitting guard. Rufus seems to agree that there is no better seat in the house.

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