Dog song.

If I could have a treat

A little treat from you

It would be awful nice

And it would see me through

Oh it would be so sweet

If I could have a treat

If I could have a pet

One little pet from you

To show me that you care

And that you like me too

Would be the best thing yet

To have a little pet

If I could take a walk

Go take a walk with you

We wouldn’t go too far

And you might like it too

And we could sit and talk

If we could take a walk

🐶

If I could share a home

Could share my home with you

And you could be my dog

And I would love you too

It’s just a dream come true

To share a home with you

👱

So, the above song -- and there is music, which I usually steal inadvertently when I try to compose music -- was inspired by Junior Dog Nipper, watching me with irresistible puppy eyebrows working while I was cooking dinner. He fancies himself my sous chef, which means he wants to hang around in the kitchen in case anything falls off the counter. But I can't let him, because there are knives, and foods that are poisonous to dogs. So he sometimes loafs on the ground and gives me the eyes. Which are irresistible. 

The proximate cause for running this soggy sentiment today is that Subaru, a lifestyle company that happens to manufacture cars, has declared October 22 to be the first annual Make a Dog's Day. And I like this idea. We know a lot of dogs need homes, and a lot of people who could take care of one and whose lives would be improved by the experience should have a dog.

BUT -- and this is a major caveat -- I will be the first to say that not everyone ought to run out and get a dog from the shelter. Dogs are more work than I had anticipated when we got Senior Dog Tralfaz. Some shelter dogs are a positive danger to small kids or other animals, and a good shelter will have assessed them for this behavior before sending them out, but not all do or can. Many families are simply too busy to give a dog the attention it needs. Many people living alone simply can't handle the requirements of a dog, for exercise or discipline or veterinary cost. The sad irony is that people with the time to raise dogs are often very young, very old, very broke, or very disabled -- the exact people who would have the most difficulty caring for a pet. And some people are just plain allergic to dogs. So although I get weepily sentimental about the big lugs, I would never place a canine with someone who couldn't cope with it. It's just stupid, and possibly dangerous.

On the other hand, a lot of folks who do have the time and the money to have a dog just don't want the added responsibility. I understand that too. I felt that way for a long time. However, I feel that way about pretty much everything that enriches my life. Dumb shallow stuff is easy. Important stuff is hard. 

Anyway, I've always been a sucker for puppy eyes. Who isn't?

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