Every dog at Slow Walks is seven or older. Some lost a home through no fault of their own: a move, an illness, an owner who simply ran out of time. Some have lost a few teeth along the way. All of them have firm views on biscuits. Our dogs live in foster homes, not kennels, so we know them properly: who snores, who steals socks and who will lean on your legs until you sit down. The characters on this page are fictional, but each one is the kind of dog an older-dog rescue meets every week.

Meet the old guard.

A cream Labrador with a white face and an open, happy mouth walking on grass

Adopt or foster

Years old, give or take a birthday. Biscuit came to us when his owner moved into a care home. He arrived with a blanket, a bowl and a note in careful handwriting: he likes to be told he is handsome. We tell him daily.

Sofa-ready

Biscuit, head of sofa testing

11

Likes: toast crusts, sunbeams and compliments

Dislikes: the hoover, bath time and stairs before breakfast

Good with: calm children, sensible cats and crossword puzzles

Ideal walk: once round the green, then a long sit on the bench

Health: mild arthritis, managed with one tablet a day

A brown older dog with a grey muzzle looking straight at the camera

Ask about Biscuit

The rest of the gang.

Six more characters, each waiting for the right sofa. Names, ages and quirks are fictional; photographs are illustrative.

Mabel, 13

Chihuahua · Lap inspector

Mostly blind and entirely in charge. Likes warm laps, heated blankets and quiet voices. Dislikes wind, sneezes and cats who stare.

A long-haired Chihuahua with cloudy eyes resting her chin on a grey sofa cushion

The Colonel, 12

Labrador · Very retired

Walks as if inspecting the troops. Likes routine, the six o’clock news and a dry towel. Dislikes surprises and anyone who calls him Col.

Pickle, 10

Terrier cross · One eye, no fear

Lost an eye, kept the attitude. Likes knitted jumpers, squeaky ducks and digging. Dislikes puddles, postmen and being picked up.

A scruffy older terrier with a grey face and one closed eye, wearing a blue knitted jumper

Wilf, 14

Small mongrel · Professional listener

Cloudy eyes, perfect hearing for the fridge door. Likes long chats, roast chicken and the kettle. Dislikes being left out of anything.

A small brindle dog with cloudy eyes and one ear flopped over, sitting on grey ground and looking up

Barney, 9

Staffie cross · Hugger-in-chief

Leans on your legs until you sit down, then sits on you. Likes everyone he has ever met. Dislikes the wrong side of a closed door.

A dark grey dog with a white-flecked muzzle looking up at the camera

Otto, 15

Labrador cross · Forever foster

Our oldest resident, living out his days with a foster carer while we cover every bill. Likes straw, sunshine and slow mornings. Dislikes hurrying.

A black dog with a grey muzzle lying in the doorway of a wooden kennel on straw

Looking for a bungalow, ideally, for his hips.

Biscuit

Gets on with calm children and sensible cats.

Looking for a quiet flat and a lap on call.

Mabel

Gets on with calm adults and other small dogs.

Looking for a routine, a garden and the evening news.

The Colonel

Gets on with everyone, at a respectful distance.

Looking for somewhere with a patch of mud.

Pickle

Gets on with older children and confident dogs.

Looking for a home where someone is in most of the day.

Wilf

Gets on with cats, if they are polite.

Looking for any sofa big enough for two.

Barney

Gets on with absolutely everybody.

Nap number three. The first two were only practice.

Toffee, 2.14pm

A tan and white dog with a greying face resting its chin on the edge of a grey dog bed

Found the one patch of sun in the house and filed a claim.

Clementine, 3.40pm

A white and ginger dog asleep in the sun on a sofa, tucked into a patterned blanket

Asleep between two blankets, as is his right.

Otto, 9.05pm

A black dog with a grey chin asleep between a blue blanket and a pink one