AS we were driving to the Teen's handful of a horse, the bus in front of me suddenly stopped for seemingly no reason at all.

I was about to overtake the double decker (in what was probably a risky manoeuvre) when the driver of the bus began to move off.

I slipped quietly back in behind the bus hoping quietly that the Teen, who can always be relied upon for her Aspergic honesty, had not paid too much attention to my driving deficiencies.

"Look mum, there's a dog in the road, it's frightened."

"Well you have Mars to think of, the dog will be alright."

"Im getting out to rescue it," shouted the Teen.

And in a cloud of blonde hair, she ran over to the trembling black Labrador, tying a belt around its lead less neck.

I was furious.

You see, a decade ago, I found a thin and trembling terrier roaming the streets.

Naive and kind hearted I picked up the little dog, fed him a little and took him to the RSPCA - where I was told he was not microchipped.

If I wanted to leave the little terrier dog in their care, I had to assume ownership and sign the forms. By doing this, I would never be able to adopt any dog or other animal from the charity.

He came home with me.

However, I couldn't risk a repeat as our own beautiful boy Jarvis is at Granny's while our home is being rebuilt and the cats are living it up at the feline equivalent of the Hilton at £465 a month - meanwhile the Teen is feeding the local flea bitten stray cat and now rescuing lost dogs - oh the irony.

After several failed door knocking attempts, I rang the vet who told me to take the fat Lab to the warden at Cedar Vet in Ringwood.

"I wish I had overtaken that blasted bus," I moaned.

"Good deeds make the world go round mum. If everyone had your attitude the world would be a horrible place,"

"Yes I know, but right now we are not in a position to take in a lost dog."

"Well he may be microchipped."

He was - thank goodness.

Two hours later the nurse rang me with an address.

"Have you lost a dog"? asked the Teen.

Their faces melted with relief when she told them the whereabouts of their beloved pet.

"She wasn't going to stop," said the Teen pointing at me "and you might want to check her for ticks, she has three."

The couple took my address and promised us something through the post.

The Teen can have all of whatever arrives.

She is the one with the big heart.