Browse ›
An elderly Black woman in a green cardigan holds out a vanilla ice cream cone as a tricolor Australian Shepherd licks it. 14 / 28

Mae Said Bandit Could Have Just One Lick of Her Ice Cream

AI imageaustralian shepherdice creamliving room

Just one lick, Mae seems to say, and Bandit is making the most of it. She leans forward from the edge of her living room couch in a green cardigan and grey tee, glasses pushed up into her silver curls, holding a vanilla waffle cone out toward her dog with an indulgent little smile. Bandit's tongue is already on the scoop, his eyes half-closed in bliss and his black-and-copper face pressed close. Behind them, a beige sofa is draped with a mustard throw and a blue blanket, a water glass and a rope toy sit on the coffee table, and family photos hang on the wall.

Sharing ice cream with a dog is a tempting summer ritual, but it's not an ideal treat. Many dogs don't digest lactose well and can end up with an upset stomach or diarrhea. Ice cream is also high in sugar and fat. Certain flavors are outright dangerous: chocolate is toxic, raisins and macadamia nuts can cause serious harm, and some sugar-free or low-sugar products contain xylitol, which can be life-threatening to dogs even in small amounts. If you want to share a cool treat, there are frozen snacks made specifically for dogs, or you can freeze a bit of plain pumpkin or a dog-safe broth in an ice cube tray. Always read ingredient labels carefully. If your dog eats anything containing chocolate or xylitol, call your vet or a pet poison hotline right away.

Mae may be a softie, but she's also wise enough to keep the shares tiny. Bandit, for his part, would happily take that whole cone off her hands.

More from this collection

All 28 →
An elderly Black woman in a green cardigan wraps a wet tricolor Australian Shepherd in a knit blanket by the front door.Bandit Came Home Soaked From the Rain. Mae Was Waiting With the Softest Blanket.An elderly Black woman in a green cardigan cooks pancakes at a gas stove while a tricolor Australian Shepherd waits nearby.Mae Was Flipping Pancakes. Bandit Was Practicing His Very Best Manners.
An elderly Black woman in a green cardigan holds a fishing rod on a wooden dock as a tricolor Australian Shepherd sits close.Mae Brought Her Rod Down to the Old Dock. Her Fishing Buddy Never Left Her Side.An elderly Black woman in a green jacket pours grain from a scoop for chickens as a tricolor Australian Shepherd follows.Mae Headed Out to Feed the Hens. A Born Herder Followed Every Step.An elderly Black woman in a green cardigan sits on a beach boardwalk bench stroking a tricolor Australian Shepherd.A Cloudy Day at the Boardwalk Turned Out Better Than Mae ExpectedAn elderly Black woman in a green shirt holds a sandwich on a bench as a tricolor Australian Shepherd sniffs it closely.Mae Lifted Her Sandwich for the First Bite. Bandit Was Already Plotting.