If she wants to be petted, I pet her. If she wants a Kong stuffed with food, she gets that, too. I feel guilty that she has cancer, guilty that - even with chemo - her life span is limited. Of course, it would be limited anyway: she's 12 years old and coming to the end of her allotted time.

Guilt is an interesting emotion in people - it leads us to do the darndest things to our dogs. Many adopters want to make up to their dogs for the horrible previous lives the dogs led. They take Fido home and proceed to give him every possible comfort. They let him do whatever he wants to do. They stay home for days, weeks or even months to make sure everything is going to be just right. They buy the best toys, food, collars, leashes and lots of beds for their new canine children. And they do much of it as reparation for the possible sins of other humans. read more