From the Editor

A four-year-old boy who was saying his final goodbyes to the family dog (don’t cry yet), overheard his parents discussing why animals don’t live as long as humans. The boy responded, "Everybody is born so they can learn how to love people and be nice, right? Animals already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long." (Now you can cry). If dogs could talk back, would that theory change? I wish I knew, but I do know why they’re (wo)man’s best friend. They never forget you, you can pick up where you left off, they make you smile, they smile back, they bring out the best. Every week when Reilly, my Golden Retriever, visits hospital patients, I see this unspoken language she brings to their bedside; a silent yet resounding colloquy she has with each patient - like kindred spirits. You know. That person you’re totally in-sync with; that you knew in a previous life and don’t skip a beat with in this one. The same person you look at life with through the same-colored glasses. Look around. Where’s your kindred spirit? Or do you need to wise-up and be one first? Are you nice and bring out the best in others, or, like Reilly, should you wag more and bark less?