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A grandmother reads a folded newspaper while a white Maltese sleeps curled up on her floral apron. 28 / 32

Abuela Opened the Morning Paper, but She Couldn't Turn the Page Without Waking Him

AI imagemalteselap dogmorning

The headlines can wait. Copito is fast asleep. Abuela Rosa holds the folded morning newspaper off to one side, reading through her glasses with a calm, focused expression, careful not to disturb the little dog curled in her lap. Copito has made himself into a perfect white ball on her floral apron, chin tucked, eyes shut, one ear flopped over. The kitchen behind them is quiet and lived-in, with a potted plant on the counter, a glass of water, a few onions in a bowl, and soft light filtering in through a lace curtain.

Lap dogs earned their name for good reason, and the Maltese is one of the oldest toy breeds bred largely for companionship. They tend to love close contact with their people and often choose a lap over any dog bed. That closeness has benefits for owners too. Many older adults find that the warmth and routine of caring for a small dog bring comfort and a sense of purpose. If your dog loves laps, just be careful when standing up; set him down gently rather than letting him jump, since even short leaps can be hard on small knees and backs.

Rosa will likely read every page twice before she even thinks about moving. Some mornings, the most important news is that someone you love is sleeping peacefully right where they are.

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A grandmother knits on a sofa while a white Maltese sits beside her tangled in loops of cream yarn.Abuela's Knitting Was Going Great. She Hadn't Looked to Her Left Yet.A grandmother naps in a woven rope hammock under an oak tree, holding a sleepy white Maltese against her chest.The Hammock Was Built for One, but Under the Oak Tree, Nobody Was Counting
A grandmother kneels to plant a tomato seedling as a white Maltese with dirty paws digs a hole right beside her.Abuela Was Planting Tomatoes. Copito Decided Every Plant Needed a Bigger Hole.A grandmother in a floral apron brushes the coat of a white Maltese sitting on concrete back steps.Every Evening on the Back Steps, Abuela and Copito Have the Same Little RitualA smiling grandmother in a floral apron holds a bowl of popcorn while a fluffy white Maltese sniffs it.Abuela Rosa Made Popcorn for Movie Night. Copito Had His Own Plans for the Bowl.A grandmother in a floral apron carries a small white Maltese in her arms on a cluttered wooden porch.The Walk Was Over, but the Porch Steps Weren't. Abuela Had a Solution.