For Pete's Sake
From Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Hilarious, Heroic, Human Dog
By Peggy Frezon

I feel sorry for people who don't have dogs. I hear they have to pick up food they drop on the floor.
~Author Unknown

The sparkle of the holidays took on a whole new meaning for me one year, all because of our Golden Retriever, Petey. We've always lived with older dogs. Quiet, sedate dogs. It's nice, but maybe a bit predictable. Two-year-old Petey is younger and full of energy. And mischief.

One afternoon, I sat at the dining room table with my four-year-old granddaughter, Grace, making Christmas decorations. Our Golden Retrievers trotted over in case what we were doing involved food, a loose term for anything that could possibly be gulped, chomped, swallowed, or slurped. "Be good," I said as they edged up to the table. The older dog, Ernest, lay at my feet. He was usually sweet and obedient, just wanting to be near his humans. But Petey bounded over with an enthusiastic bounce, jumped up, and stuck his nose right into our work. "No, Petey!" Grace cried, as colored construction paper flew everywhere. (Keep reading)