Three dogs is the right number for Maria and I, we both agreed that for us more than three is too much, the dynamics of the pack change and we end up spending too little time with each of them. Other people love more than that, and I understand that. I got a long tour of the Silicon Valley Humane Society and I saw a lot of wonderful animals, but only one that I wanted to take home, that was this sweet and beautiful puppy, a slightly manic but very affectionate terrier of some indeterminate kind.

The shelter workers said they could give us a carrier to take on the plane and we could bring her home. I wanted to but Maria reminded me of my own philosophy and preferences – we have plenty of animals on the farm. Still, she got to me and I would have taken her home if I could have. Attachment theory if wonderful and mysterious, I have never owned a small dog and never wanted one, and I have to think long and hard about why this one reached me, but a part of that attachment is knowable and a part is not. The shelter staff assured me she would be adopted but I kept coming back to her and we were definitely connected. I’ll check on her.

She likes the camera as well, no small consideration.