On account of my crazy ancestry, it's entirely possible I have some dog DNA. I spent half of my life with our family's dogs; the rest I've often spent as defacto caretaker for housemate's and friend's pets. I recently cared for two dogs over 1 month one of which was a more elderly dog that not only required medication but also trips for chemotherapy. In general, I'm an animal lover (cats not excluded), and I consider myself attuned to the signals animals present when they need or want things. I'm no animal behaviorist, but I'll admit to watching lots of The Dog Whisperer and My Cat From Hell. Generally I speak to animals like I talk to myself – don't worry, it's a sign of mental health – trust. Currently, I live with a Black Labrador, an Australian Shepherd, a Golden Retriever, and 5 cats. While I'm not their owner, I enjoy them all. I strongly believe that pet ownership is a privilege, and so I've decided not to own until I can offer everything one needs from my own life. So basically, I'll blink and nod kindly while asking your dog what it needs – sometimes talking in silly accents – and do my best to make sure it's happy and as tired as possible. I also fetch.