Prologue

As I think back on my childhood days I think every child would love to have a dog.  Generally, the child never realizes the extent of care involved behind the scenes in providing their brief encounters with their furry friend during their busy fun-filled day.  As a child, the newness of a pet wears off like a new fancy toy.  Soon the dog is just a side dish and rarely will they be appreciated or interacted with the way they need to be.  Even for an adult, having a dog (or any pet) is like raising a new child.  As an adult I have always believed a dog is a lot of work.  In my encounters with friends and relatives I always told everyone I would never raise a dog.  It was too much work and to great a sacrifice.  From feeding and cleaning up poop to cleaning up shedding hair and rescuing chewed up clothing and shoes.  I despise dog drool and my body is a natural magnet for fleas.

Once my two children were grown and out on their own, I became content with a single lifestyle.  Occasional guests were fine, but I was unwilling to share my life with any one else.  I am a solitude kind of guy, I like my peace and quiet and freedom.  I don’t enjoy a bunch of company and I for the most part am a loner.

I seldom traveled socially, but when I did there was a common irritation at many of my family and friends residences.  I would talk to friends in regards to their dogs.  I could not imagine having an animal around and needing to take care of it all the time.  I would speak to my sister, who lived across the country, on the phone and hear her dog barking in the background.  I would tell her to let it out the back door and if she was lucky it would run away and never come back.  The animal might get hit by a car or shot by a local hunter if she was lucky.  Perhaps that was a little insensitive, at least that was what she thought.  Regardless, to me having an animal around would be a great deal of work with no benefit whatsoever.  I would talk to friends when visiting their houses and discuss with them, why it was quite necessary, if life was to be enjoyed, to get rid of that smelly, sniffing, irritating thing roaming around their house.  I was unaware that my whole outlook on dogs was soon going to dramatically change.