Colman Noctor: Bringing a puppy home was one of the best decisions we ever made

"While Cooper is not yet a year old, the strength of the attachment is such that my son is already trying to imagine how he might cope when he is no longer here. It got me thinking about the emotional process of having a family pet."

Colman Noctor with family dog Cooper (a Golden Retriever) along with children: Harry (9), Layla (11) and Ódhran (14)  along the River Barrow in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow. Photo: Rory Kellett

A RECENT conversation with my 10-year-old went like this:

“Dad, how long will Cooper (our golden retriever puppy) live for?”