Team Dog Forever: Why My Heart Belongs to Four Paws and a Wagging Tail

There are dog people.
There are cat people.
And then there are those magical unicorns who manage to love both.

Me? I’ve always been a dog person, no hesitation, no fence-sitting. At the tender age of seven, I marched into dog ownership with my very first dachshund. Her name? Spot. I know, I know. You’re thinking, “Wow, that’s original.” In my defense, I was seven, and frankly, every dog book I’d ever read led me to believe that if you named a dog anything other than Spot, Fido, or Rover, it simply wouldn’t fetch. Also - look at her face!

Spot was the beginning of a lifelong love affair. With the exception of a few (tragically dogless) years, I’ve always had a furry companion—or two or three—by my side. Some people collect stamps. I collect dogs.

Now, I’ll admit something that every dog lover secretly knows: this is a story that never ends well. Dogs are with us for such a heartbreakingly short time. But still, given the choice, I’ll sign up for the heartbreak every single time. The joy, the loyalty, the sheer comedy of living with a dog outweighs everything else.

And is it really any wonder, then, that the Magical Papillon Mysteries are among my favorite stories to write—and apparently some of your favorites to read? A series with a talking Papillon named Pixie who helps solve crimes? Honestly, it was inevitable. Team Dog all the way.

So, dear reader, I’ll leave you with this question: where do you stand? Are you Team Dog, Team Cat, or one of those mystical “both” people? (And if you happen to be Team Lizard, Team Ferret, or Team Parrot… please know I admire your courage.)

One thing’s for sure—whether it’s Spot the dachshund or Blueberry the Papillon, Pixie's alter ego, dogs have always had my heart and, apparently, my keyboard.

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