Friends for Life
By Katie Johnson, Staff Writer

Man’s best friend has long been a staple of American life. From a child’s first tiny ball of fur to an elderly woman’s aged companion, dogs capture the hearts of young and old alike.
      “Whoever said you can’t buy happiness forgot little puppies,” said Gene Hill, author of Passing a Good Time with Guns, Dogs, Fly Rods, and Other Joys . Nothing makes one smile like the wag of a tail and an eager face. Puppies will be your playmates until they are dog-tired, and then cuddle by your side at night.
     The newness of a little puppy is comparable to the steadfast devotion of a weathered old dog.
     “Old dogs, like old shoes, are comfortable,” wrote Bonnie Wilcox in her book Old Dogs, Old Friends. “They might be a bit out of shape and a little worn around the edges, but they fit well.” Dogs can be lifelong companions. Except they won’t leave the toilet seat up or argue over the credit card bill.
     Selecting a dog can be like shopping for a car. What suits your lifestyle? Sporty and compact, or oversized and reliable? Whether it is a Chihuahua with a heart of gold or a Rottweiler who will be your faithful servant, any breed chosen will be a good one.
     Dogs also seem to resemble their owners.
     “If you are a dog and your owner suggests you wear a sweater,” said writer and humorist, Fran Lebowitz, “suggest that he wears a tail.” A poodle’s perfectly groomed coat mirrors its’ owner’s perfectly manicured perm; a lovable mutt’s insistent yapping reflects its’ owner’s vivacious spirit.
     Dogs are a symbol of who we are, and who we’d like to be. Dogs don’t know jealousy or discontent, they love selflessly, and their whole world revolves around your arrival home.
     “I think dogs are the most amazing creatures,” said the late actress and former dog-owner Gilda Radner, “they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive.”

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