DOG OWNERSHIP

Q: I am getting married in June. I have the sweetest dog who could serve as a ring bearer, walking down the aisle with the rings tied to his collar. I’ve seen it in pictures, and it looks adorable. At the same time, as cooperative as my dog is, I think it might be a lot for him to deal with many unfamiliar eyes on him in a strange setting. Is there a yes or no on this, or does it depend on the dog?

Q: My sister and I grew up with dogs, and I absolutely adore them, but she does not. Our  parents love animals, especially dogs, and showed us by example how much you can get out of a great relationship with a dog. I should point out that my sister never had a scary experience with an aggressive dog. So why that difference?
Summer Westervelt
Pacific Palisades, California

You’ve found a wonderful place to live, and though the lease says “No pets allowed,” you’ve been back to the apartment building a few times and have seen another renter walking their dog on the grounds. You’ve even seen a dog in a window, so you figure it won’t be a problem—kind of like the dog owner’s equivalent of jaywalking. But it very well could.

Love going on vacation but hate leaving your dog at home? What about taking your pet on a cruise?

Most people prefer to have just one dog. Of the 65 million American households dogs live in, 87 percent of them live without other canines. And that’s absolutely fine. Those “singletons” generally have good lives, loved by their human family members and well taken care of. But if you’ve ever thought about getting a second dog for your pet, you may just want to take the leap—if you can afford it and have the energy to care for two canines.

This year in particular, it seems, emotions are running high about political events here in the U.S. as well as about conflicts in other regions of the globe. And sometimes those emotions spill over into discourse that might not be relevant or appropriate to a partic-
ular setting.