I was a seven-year-old when I had my first real encounter with a dog as a pet. One day, the door bell rang and my mother opened to see who it was. There stood a six-foot tall brigadier, dressed in full military regalia, holding a dog. My mother’s eyes popped out and she simply trembled when he handed the dog to her. She had never handled a dog before.

The officer thanked her and said her kind-hearted husband had offered to adopt the dog as, unfortunately, he had to leave the island. In came a soldier handling a big tray with fresh beef liver, which he passed on to mum.

On the way out, the brigadier turned back and told me: “son, the dog’s name is Tess.” As soon as the main door was closed I turned round and called Tess, which ran towards me. I hugged her and, to truth be told, I never felt such comfort.

Mum was a bit perturbed because, in those days, dogs were not acceptable in the house and she wore an angry look till my father came home from work.

We sat at table – me, my two elder brothers and dad – and we all had pleading and smiling eyes to ease my mother’s resentfulness. She turned towards my Tess and, noticing the animal’s loving eyes, she just melted and accepted the dog on a number of conditions.

That same evening, I shared, for the first time, my dinner with Tess.

From day one, Tess and I shared our love and friendship. I immediately started looking after the dog. It was one of mum’s conditions and this taught me the responsibility of life and mutual trust. It improved my relationship with other children and grown-ups and taught me to express empathy with others.

My social integration ability and social competence are also thanks to it. Though I was quite athletic ,Tess helped me, through our daily walks or, rather, runs across the fields, to keep fit.

It would always wait for me to come back home from school. We used to share tea and buns and then off to do homework and there Tess stood by my side.

Later on, I used to wake up at 4am to study for my exams. It was freezing cold but, notwithstanding that, Tess would stay under the desk warming my chilly toes. It motivated me to study and helped me in my academic successes.

The greatest comfort I got from Tess is when she provided me with support during my adolescence. They were difficult times as no adult helped.

It was also there to provide companionship when I was sick and during my recovery.

Following my O levels, Tess developed an acute skin problem. The dog was over 10 years old and my parents decided to put it to sleep. Skin problems were a taboo.

We siblings did not want to participate in such a decision and my uncle sent a man to take the dog to the gas chamber of the then RSPCA.

Some four weeks later, on Good Friday, I heard a scratching sound at the door. I went to check and, on opening the door, there was Tess. How it managed to track us down is still a mystery for me.

We hugged and kissed and mum and dad did not even consider sending it back to the RSPCA. Tess lived happily ever till old age.

Perhaps, my taking on the veterinary profession was towards the love, companionship, loyalty and affection Tess had for me.

This brings me to the dogs that are kept in kennels, in homes or sanctuaries.

I hate walking near the pens and watching these dogs with sad eyes asking to be given love and a home.

There are other dogs crawled up in the corner of the pens looking miserable as they have given up hope and feel dejected.

Schools should adopt a dog or two so children can experience the happiness of caring

My childhood experience makes me wonder why schools do not adopt a dog or two and keep them in their grounds for children to experience my happiness of caring. On weekends, children can take them home and during holidays they can be looked after by families.

Let’s empty the dog homes.

A home needs a dog and a dog needs a home.

Some time ago, I had contributed to the setting up of the Blue Dog Organisation, which provides a teaching toolbox for teachers in getting children to better love dogs or, for that matter, any type of pet (www.thebluedog.org/en/).

In my semi-retirement, I still need my dog to give me comfort. It was sad to read that a senior citizen was badly treated for taking her tiny dog to swim in a swimmer’s zone.

But this only happened at Qawra because in other areas dogs are taken to such swimming zones. The other swimmers enjoy seeing the dogs playing around.

Both dogs and humans need to swim to keep fit and ease arthritic pains.

You cannot expect a senior woman to swim outside the swimming zone or take her dog to a dog friendly bay far away from her home.

For next year, I recommend that a blue dog swimming area be included in every swimming area.

Carmel Lino Vella is a veterinary surgeon.