Happy Tails to You

Cousin Yumi on a video call with me.

On a Saturday morning after a slow news week, I am not above using cute animals to cover for my lack of inspiration. Seeing these photos makes me wonder what it is that bonds us to these smelly-breathed, pesty little four-leggers who are at the least, demanding and needy. Even as I write this, one of them is scratching the back of my chair, needing I know not what. And so, I will recite the litany of dog needs and hope that the word "potty" stirs a reaction.

Bella waiting for table service She already tipped!

Why do we put up with the inconveniences of pet ownership? Maybe it's because of the one thing they don't do - talk. Communicating with them requires us to tune in to their needs, tuning out our noisy world. And for this, they are so grateful for the simplest things, like going potty, and they thank us with pure enthusiasm, and dry floors.

The eyes have it.

Dogs and cats are masters of non-verbal communication. They speak with their expectant eyes and question us with tilted heads. Pretty cool for what they have to work with.
If you thought this blog post would not include a picture of Teddy the Underdog, you were mistaken. Here he is, asking with his eyes, "If I wear this stupid
Snuggie will you scratch my back?"
You betcha, Teddy.
Enjoy your Saturday.