Barney and Bella

….. feature in “Leaving Ukraine” as they are part of the Johns household. They are cockerpoos who came to live with Sue and Rick in August 2019 after being rehomed through a doodle rescue charity. At the time they were 3 and 4 years old, siblings from different litters.

Bella (ginger) is the older one and has a strong moral compass – being good is her modus operandi.

Barney (black), on the other hand, is a rogue and a psycho. A lot of money has been invested in trying to get him on the path of righteousness but he is impervious. He is charming but his wayward behaviour stresses his sister who feels she has to apologise for him.

Since the publication of Leaving Ukraine, Barney contracted an aggressive cancer and sadly died in February 2025. We all miss him so much.