I’ve always loved pets. I remember watching Lassie and Rin Tin Tin on TV, enthralled with the loyal bond between these dogs and their children. By age eight, I just had to have one of my own. Making it happen was a long shot.
My father was not an approachable man, but I somehow mustered the courage to ask if I could have a puppy. He intoned, with stark clarity, that I alone would be responsible for all dog-related chores: Feeding, training, exercising and cleaning up. I was committed — more than ready, although I had no idea. The stars must have aligned. To my astonishment, he consented.
