(no longer) The Northernmost Jew

[Today's Anchorage Daily News printed my letter to the editor. Picture is of the dogs who inspired it. L-R Max, Trouble, Argos, Preston]


Columnist Joel Stein says that dogs don't feel affection toward people, that they are just "using" us ("All this fuss about dogs is just crazy," Aug. 14).

People are always using other people. It is what makes society work. Businesses use customers to stay in business while their customers use them for services. My employer is using me to get work accomplished; I am using it to get money. Married people use each other for companionship, love, sex, money, housework, and care.

But dogs? As my mother used to say, "We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made."