Why are you leaving us?

People tell us all the time, "I wish we had a dog (dogs) just like yours. They're so devoted...they're so loving...they're so affectionate".

They sit by the door and pine for our return.

When we leave for a few minutes or a few days, our return is greeted with glee and unbridled enthusiasm. When we go out for an hour, Loretta tells them, "We'll be right back in a few minutes".

The pain-in-the-ass factor is far-outweighed by what we redeem from them in love and sensitivity. The slobber marks on the coffee table are more than counter-balanced by their perpetual forgiveness for being telled at. The occassional bothersome barking is repaid constantly by our nightly peace of mind just having them there.

All three of them really are a daily source of joy and warmth. Since we are so-called empty-nesters, they are a more than adequate replacement for our grown and gone children.

As for the dogs themselves...they are spoiled and pampered...even though they act as though we are abusing and neglecting them for going to the store and leaving them home.

We are priviledged to have them. But it was a lot of work getting them to be so "devoted"!