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My little miracle: Boy turns 5

Published

1 week ago

August 26, 2026

admin

Boy’s fifth birthday. Credit: Nicole King

I love my dog with passion but even so this year is the first year I’ve actually celebrated his birthday with a party. This past Tuesday Boy turned 5; a miracle in itself. He started off as a rescue and we really had no idea if he’d make it for the first 6 months.

Then, last year, he became listless and lost the use of his legs; it seemed hopeless. An MRI revealed he had had meningitis, leaving him with encephalitis and pressure on his brain.

Thanks to medication and in large part the use of homeopathy, he has now stabilised and is not in pain; he eats, drinks and has mastered the commando crawl.

When I learnt that my neighbour Lulu had opened a new business and sold ice cream for dogs, the idea of celebrating this achievement came to mind. I really wanted to show all the people who have helped get him, and me, thus far, including his doggy friends, how much we appreciate them.

Lulu is a lovely young woman, mother to two young children, who for the past 12 years has run food trucks, events and catering. She has just opened this new smash burger and hot dog bar, called Olmars, in Cortijo Blanco, where she grew up. If this new venture succeeds, she won’t have to travel and will have more time for her little ones before they’re no longer little. She also caters to vegans , which not many places do, so it would be nice if we can all help her in this venture. She is Spanish, her family are all born and bred in San Pedro and like my Boy, deserve to thrive.

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Annual Tiger Mosquito Alert

Published

3 days ago

September 2, 2026

Nicole King

Tiger mosquito. Credit: Pawich Sattalerd/Shutterstock

You could be breeding potentially dangerous mosquitoes in your own garden without even realising it.

A dog’s water bowl, a child’s toy, a forgotten bucket or even a flowerpot containing a tiny amount of stagnant water can provide exactly what the Asian Tiger mosquito needs to reproduce.

The Asian Tiger mosquito is smaller than most mosquitoes and has a very distinctive white band across its back. Officially known as Aedes albopictus, it has for some years been setting up home in our international community on the Costa del Sol.

This is not good as a bite from one of these mosquitoes can leave more than a red bump and itchy skin. Originally from Southeast Asia, the females can potentially transmit serious diseases including dengue, Zika and Chikungunya.

The problem is taken seriously. In 2026 the Junta de Andalucía has strengthened its surveillance of the Asian Tiger mosquito, including monitoring for these diseases.

The first and most important rule is to ensure there is no still or stagnant water available for them to lay their eggs.

This includes baby pools, flowerpots, birdbaths, dog water bowls, bottles, buckets, vases, toys, rubbish bins and even tyres. Swimming pools, particularly half-empty pools, wells, cisterns and other water containers should be covered and drains and gutters checked.

Dog water bowls should be changed and cleaned frequently and children’s toys checked to keep everything fresh or dry.

Most bites will simply be another itchy red bump, but if you develop headaches, fever, abnormal swelling or nausea, please do visit a doctor.

The Government is taking this issue seriously; so should we. Keeping stagnant water to a minimum is something we can all do to help keep this potentially dangerous invader at bay.