I'd like you to meet another wonderful creature: Hercules. Herc is of the canine persuasion and is quickly becoming one of 'those' dogs. You know... the kind that just melts your heart, the kind that seems to understand every word you say. That type of dog or, that kind of bond, only happens once or twice in a life time. Or, if you are really lucky, three times.
I'm laid up right now; degenerative disc disease gets the better of me several times a year - and this time it's a real doozie. My faithful shadow is laying stretched out next to me, one paw on me, always :)