Vicky Ewan: Light at end of tunnel with Miss Pup - fingers crossed

I feel there is light at the end of a long, dim tunnel as far as Miss Pup is concerned, thanks in no small part to the unstinting efforts of a kind friend.
At this point, I feel it only fair to reveal that the canine in question has now celebrated her second birthday - a festive affair featuring tins of dog food in place of her habitual dry fare, a new pig toy (immediately and enthusiastically destroyed), and a plethora of birthday kisses.
She is now, as I have learnt through consultation with our knowledgeable smart speaker, the equivalent of 24 years in human terms, and should really be re-named Miss Dog in recognition of her elevated maturity; it seems a shame to dispose of her original moniker, however, and I hope you'll excuse the indulgence and permit the affectionate Miss Pup title to remain.
Back in February, clocking the approach of a significant birthday for my husband in the summer, I made plans to whisk the family away for a weekend on the Scilly Isles to celebrate the auspicious event. This, of course, necessitated temporary accommodation for our pooch, which threw up all manner of issues: kennel or private? Home or away? Dream or disaster? After a tolerable but less than ideal experience at boarding kennels, we investigated the possibility of a private home, agreeing to a short trial with an experienced respondent; its success led to a booking to cover the holiday period, and I relaxed, optimistic that all would be well with our dog and her capable sitter.
Alas, with approximately a month remaining until the departure date, I was sympathetic and dismayed in equal measure to receive a phone call from the lady in question, wherein she described a fall she had suffered which had left her with a fractured collar bone - and no possibility of taking care of Miss Pup. We were back to square one.
Renewed searches online yielded a dearth of results, and, at my children's suggestion, I turned to social media, posting a plea for assistance that I hoped would generate a positive response. I included a bewitching photo of Miss Pup that had caught her in her best light (as though there could be any other!), and was gratified that, though they were unable to help, several friends and family members contacted me simply to exclaim at her beauty - always music to my ears. No offers of support were immediately forthcoming, however, and I began to wonder if I had been a little too honest in my description of her many shortcomings and neuroses.
I stood by the wording though, convinced that it was vital for any would-be boarder to have as complete a picture as possible about the challenges of having our dog to stay in their house. One thoughtful respondent provided details about someone they would be happy to recommend; unfortunately, the specifications were unsuitable for our needs, and the wait continued.
To my relief, it wasn't a protracted period before a friend contacted me, stating their theoretical willingness to assist. We made plans to meet up at a local café a few days' hence, to assess whether Miss Pup's reaction to a new person in her life would be favourable, and vice versa; if so, we would take things from there.
The day arrived, with the weather behaving beautifully for this initial encounter. As I approached my friend, who was already seated at an outside table, though full of trepidation I was outwardly calm, determined that my concern should not convey itself to our naturally nervous pooch.
My friend was a model of considerate composure, and we managed to sit and chat for quite some time without huge difficulty. Miss Pup even accepted a treat or two from the hand of this near total stranger; it was most encouraging.
Since that day, we have arranged several further meetings, with each one conditioning our dog a little more effectively into accepting the presence of my friend. And things are looking promising: at a recent get-together, our pooch tentatively accepted a stroke of her head and velvety ears - progress on a scale I had not allowed myself to expect: panacea for my soul.
The big day is now in sight, with our little jaunt merrily peeping up over the horizon. Please keep your fingers crossed that all goes well, for the sake of every man, woman and beast concerned; it's going to be interesting!