Huddled under my umbrella the other day, I was dodging raindrops and puddles as I walked the three blocks from the parking garage to my office. As I was passing an apartment building, I saw an elderly woman standing near the entrance holding an umbrella over her little white poodle dog. Unfortunately, the umbrella wasn’t large enough to cover both her and the dog, so she was getting soaked. Unable to withhold comment, I said, “Do you think he’ll melt if he gets wet?” She responded, “Well, he’s sweet enough to melt, but the truth is that if I don’t hold the umbrella for him he gets angry and pouts and won’t eat his lunch.” And, by dinner time he’s an absolute bear! Welcome to the world of the pampered pet.

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