Browse ›
A smiling grandmother holds a vanilla ice cream cone as a white Maltese licks the top in a sunny kitchen. 19 / 32

It Was Too Hot for Anything but Ice Cream, and Abuela Only Had One Cone

AI imagemalteseice creamsummer

It is too hot to do anything but eat ice cream, and Abuela Rosa has decided to share. She holds a single vanilla cone at Copito's height, and he leans in with his little pink tongue to take a careful lick from the side. Rosa watches with a delighted grin, eyes crinkled behind the joy of it, her floral apron tied over a faded blue T-shirt. The cone is already dripping a bit down the waffle. Behind them, the kitchen is bright and simple, with tiled floors, wooden cabinets, a blue dish towel, and sunlight streaming in through the back window.

Ice cream is a classic summer treat for people, but it is not ideal for dogs. Many adult dogs do not digest lactose well, so dairy can lead to an upset stomach. Regular ice cream is also high in sugar and fat, which is a lot for a dog as small as a Maltese. Flavors matter, too: chocolate, coffee, and anything with xylitol or raisins are dangerous. If you want to share a cool treat, there are frozen treats made specifically for dogs, or you can freeze a little plain yogurt or mashed banana in an ice cube tray. Ask your vet if your dog has a sensitive stomach.

Copito will probably remember this lick for the rest of the summer. Rosa will remember his face. Hot days have a way of making small, sweet moments feel like the best part of the season.

More from this collection

All 32 →
A grandmother hand-sews quilt fabric while a golden dog sleeps on the fabric pile and a white Maltese sits nearby.Abuela Spread Out Her Quilt Fabric, and It Became the Most Popular Bed in the HouseA grandmother in a floral apron sleeps on a blue blanket on the lawn, curled around a dozing white Maltese.Abuela Only Meant to Lie Down for a Minute. Copito Had the Same Idea.
A grandmother on a couch reads aloud from an open book while a white Maltese sniffs the pages with interest.Abuela Was Reading Aloud When Her Listener Decided to Check the Book HimselfA grandmother paints a colorful canvas on a wooden easel in the backyard while a white Maltese lies on the patio.Abuela Set Up Her Easel Outside. Copito Picked the Spot Right in Front.A grandmother in a puffy jacket and knit cap shovels snow while a white Maltese bounds through a snowbank.Abuela Went Out to Shovel the Snow. Copito Went Out to Disappear in It.A grandmother in jeans and a floral apron walks a white Maltese on a leash down a dirt country road at sunset.The Sun Was Going Down on the Old Dirt Road, and Copito Was Leading the Way