I love dogs.  Especially if they belong to other people.  I think about owning one of my own, but I remind myself of cold winter mornings with slippery sidewalks, and I remain dog-less.

Lately, I have been watching a golden retriever progress from pure puppydom to teen-age puppydom.  His owner knows I’m a fan, and when we meet on the street, we always stop to chat while I get my petting in.

65.1 million U.S. households own a dog. 

I will continue to resist.