Lily.

Lily is a golden retriever who lives and works with me in Madrid.

She has strong opinions about the best parks in the Retiro, a reliable nose for detecting when lunch is being considered, and an unfailing interest in whatever I happen to be working on. She does not understand urgency, which I consider her finest quality.

She came to live with me as a puppy and has grown into a dog of considerable character. She has successfully convinced me that no working day is complete without a walk of unreasonable length, and that a golden retriever's perspective on most problems is probably the right one.

She is not a therapy dog. She is better than that.