A four dog family

I had it all figured out.

We’d get a new puppy every four years.

That way as one dog neared the end of the trail another would be reaching its prime and a puppy would bring up the rear.

But Barb and I didn’t want four dogs. That would be too many. On occasion, we even talked in hushed tones about how easy life would be with only a couple of dogs or even one.

My plan was based on the 12-year life expectancy of springer spaniels. Then Spot refused to die and Barb became impatient.

Not at the old dog’s imminent demise, but at the thought of ours.

“This could be our last puppy,” she t...