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Ask Dog Lady

Thursday Jul 12, 2018

Advice on Pets, Life, Love

Dear Dog Lady,

I heard that Senator Elizabeth Warren got a dog. Good for her. I hadn't heard the chosen name for her pet, nor did I hear what kind of dog she got so I wonder if you could enlighten me.

Marta

Dear Marta,

Yes, yes, the Massachusetts senator got a dog. Actually, a couple of weeks ago, she first announced husband Bruce Mann surprised her with a golden retriever puppy, tweeting, "There's a lot of pain and chaos in the world right now - we decided to bring a little gentleness and normalcy into our lives." The best reason to bring a dog into the family.

President Donald Trump, a man with no empathy and no pets in his life, has recently belittled and badgered Warren. His son also mocked Warren, suggesting her dog be named "Sniffing Bull." When the Trumps went low, Warren went high. She made no comment about Junior's stupid joke.

Last Saturday, Warren took to Twitter to announce the name of her dog in another tweet. This communique carried a picture of the senator cradling the most adorable puppy golden retriever. She wrote: "Friends, meet Bailey. We named him after George Bailey, the community banker in It's a Wonderful Life - a guy who was decent, determined & saw the best in people," she wrote. "I always thought the role of GB was written for a Golden Retriever, but Jimmy Stewart did a nice job with it."

So, another dog gets a happy home as Warren gives a subtle backhand swipe at the Trumps by appealing to our better natures.


Dear Dog Lady,

My dog Garfunkle can be a little crazy at times but I hope that's not reason he was disinvited from our neighbors' annual summer cookout. It's a big bash and we go every year with Garfy but this year the invitation says: "Hot dogs only. Please leave your pets at home."
I would love to ask what prompted this new policy. I hope it wasn't Garfy knocking over the bowl of fusilli salad at last year's picnic. Would I be impolite if I asked the hosts?

Rose

Dear Rose,

Yes, such a query would be rude and unwelcome. Just as wandering dogs do not belong at fireworks displays so they do not belong unleashed at summer picnics where bowls of food are displayed. Their tails can tip over salads and their pleading eyes can beg for shared morsels of meat - not to mention every other inconvenience caused by dogs on the prowl amongst people. The name is "Ask Dog Lady" but this column advocates proper boundaries between people and pets. Dogs should not be included everywhere.

You were invited to a summer picnic. Go. Have fun. Eat well, and be happy you have a dog to welcome you back home.

Write askdoglady@gmail.com