"Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job." (-Franklin Jones)

We’ve had a number of dogs in our lives over the years. “Calvin,” a yellow lab, was like my son’s older brother when Eric was growing up. He put up with Eric’s curious fingers in his mouth and eyes, when Eric was a young child exploring, and he never flinched when Eric would grab his fur to get help in learning to stand up as a toddler. Calvin sat close by the crib when Eric was tiny, guarding him no matter what. Eric’s first giggles were over things Calvin would do that he found entertaining. Eric then went on to love “Bert,” another yellow lab his dad had, who figured predominately in his life later on. Even after Eric’s dad died unexpectedly young, Bert, with his aging hips and a tumorous growth, carried on and was always ecstatically happy to see Eric enter a room.

My siblings have dogs that the family all love. There’s “Bubba,” a Cardigan Welsh corgi, who lives with my sister’s family in Georgia. He’s the Wonder Dog who sits with treats on his nose and never budges until you give him permission that it’s now “OK” to eat them. And there’s “Tucker,” the Pembroke corgi who lives with my younger sister and her family in New Jersey. He’s still a puppy and just adorable. I have not been able to do them justice in sketches, but I’d love to try again as I visit them.

One other family dog is “Lucy,” who doesn’t know she’s a mutt, but she’s tiny and sweet. Joe’s son and his girlfriend have two dogs: “Olivia,” (a tiny Chihuahua) and “Winston,” who’s also a mutt, with whom everyone falls instantly in love. They are all a part of the family and provide amusing anecdotes as most dogs do.

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.” (-Gilda Radner)