March 23 2020: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces a nationwide lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19.
We all remember the beginning, I think. I know I do. The initial lockdown in the UK was only due to last a few weeks when it was announced. It would turn out to be the first of multiple lockdowns throughout the year, heavily disrupting day-to-day life.
Non-essential businesses were ordered to close, and while I, like many others around the world, hoped that this would be a short-term measure, there was no way to know when things would return to normal — or if they ever would.
So that March 23rd will forever be etched into my brain. It’s not just because of the unprecedented announcement that would upend our lives, however.
It’s because that day was also when I brought home two rescue lurcher hybrids from a local animal shelter.
Wanted: a new best friend
It wasn’t supposed to happen this quickly.
I’d been looking for a new companion after losing my dog of 16 years the previous December. My family and I took a trip to the local shelter after hearing of eight lurchers — mixed-breed dogs of greyhound and collie or terrier descent — being brought in from Ireland. It took only a few minutes after our arrival before I completely fell in love with not one but two puppies: Archie and Riley.
One thing that became apparent quickly was that they were much more excitable than my previous dog, Mickey. He was a shy border collie, and an accident early on in his life meant he was always a slow walker. These two were Mickey’s opposite.
As soon as Archie and Riley were let out of their cage to run around, it became clear that they were different beasts entirely. There they were, chasing after each other, play-fighting and jumping up at us with abandon. They were wild, and I loved them instantly. We were all certain that we wanted to bring them home with us, but there were a few things to get sorted first. Namely, preparing for the two dogs’ arrival to our home, as well as ensuring our two cats were fully vaccinated. All of this would take a little while, but I was happy to wait for them. We were in no rush.
Then the announcement came just a short time later.
Non-essential businesses, which included the animal shelter, had to close. We were left with a choice: adopt them now or wait for an indeterminate amount of time with no guarantee they’d still be there.
My family exchanged glances quickly, and it was settled. We brought Archie and Riley home with us that day. Dogs in tow, we drove back home, lurching into what would come to be a global pandemic.
Settling in
The first few weeks were chaotic. In addition to our new reality that Covid had sprung upon us all, my family had to learn how to handle two six-month-old lurchers. Not only that, they were used to running around big fields, and now they were suddenly confined to a house and garden with a full family and two cats, who quickly established their dominance via a paw to the face. Things were stressful (and expensive — we lost two smart TVs due to rampaging dogs). There was a point where I began to wonder whether we’d made the right decision bringing both of them into our home.
A few weeks later, however, that all changed.. It became apparent that the lockdown wasn’t going away anytime soon, and I was struggling to find a job after graduating from university. It was, looking back, the worst period of my life, and it came to a head one night in April when I had a panic attack. This was the first attack I’d ever suffered, and it was a genuinely scary experience — right up until Riley jumped up onto the sofa, sat down next to me, and rested her head on my lap. I’m convinced to this day that Riley recognized I was in distress and wanted to comfort me. Any doubts I had about adopting them vanished completely; Archie and Riley were my best friends and were going to be with me forever. That night confirmed it.
As the months went on, Archie and Riley kept me sane. About a year later, upon getting my Covid vaccines, I finally took them both on a big, long walk to thank them for how much they had done for me.
Fast forward to 2025
I’m writing this on their sixth birthday. Looking at Archie and Riley now, fast asleep on the sofa, it’s wild to think I struggled with them all those years ago. They’ve grown into well-behaved, loyal, and lovable companions, and they’ve continued supporting me in their own way. Whether in the middle of moving house, grappling with bereavement, or just stress about life, knowing that they’re there has helped me immensely.
I don’t know how I would have fared the pandemic and onward without Archie and Riley by my side. And I’m really glad I’ll never have to know.
