To dog or not to dog?

That's been the question for awhile. At one point we thought we'd surprise the kids with a Christmas puppy. But when our adoption application of a Jack Russell Terrier mixed with something else was rejected because our cat hadn't had regular vet checkups in NJ, we tempered our enthusiasm. Then my pal Dan got a dog for his birthday and we started Googling various breeds. Something called a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier was all the rage for a week or so, now Schnauzers and Basenjis are in the running. And then at the mall pet stores we keep cuddling designer breeds created to satisfy the hypoallergenic (like Carey).

This is Greta with a Shihpoo, that's half Shih Tzu and half poodle for the uninitiated. Too small for my taste. No dog should fit in a bag, nor be smaller than our 21.75 lb. cat. So. Maybe in the spring these pages will be filled with a puppy. Stay tuned.