Going to the Dogs

"Going to the Dogs" describes what came to be thought of as an almost sixteen-year retreat in everyday life in the care and company of three sheltie dogs. Beginning with a drive on a clear fall day in Vermont and the unplanned adoption of three little untrained puppies, the journey of dogs and their human family begins with rambunctious puppyhood and continues through the complete life-cycle of the dogs, exploring the mutual relationships as well as challenges and rewards. "As we think back about our time with Rowan, Molly, and Liam, we sometimes ask ourselves whether, if we had known at the beginning what we know now, would we still have been willing to spend those sixteen years going to the dogs? Would we still have gone through with it? Would we still be willing to go back and once again put up with all those early frustrations and later those demanding periods of care? We recall the old understanding that it is we humans who allow dogs to grow into awareness of themselves, and we would add that it is also dogs, with their growing unconditional love and companionship, that allow people to become more human. . . So would we have still gone through with it? If we had known, would we still have been willing to spend so much time going to the dogs? The story of this expanding relationship is far from over, but would we have started it in the first place? The answer is simple: yes, we would have. Yes, and again, yes!"