As long as I can remember, I’ve had a dog. Little dogs with puffy tails. Big, slobbering mutts. Nice dogs, mean dogs, sweet dogs, sick dogs, I’ve had them all. I’m what you’d call a dog girl. I never thought of other pets as pets. There were cats, of course, but I’m allergic to them. I’m afraid of birds, and rodents hardly seemed worthwhile. No, I’m a dog girl through and through.