A very very bad dog

The new dog is doing quite well. The boys re-christened her "Slime Hound" due to her enthusiastic tongue-based greetings. She has also taken over the lower bunk bed, but is willing to accommodate the transient occupant nocturnally, so all is well.I am foolishly considering adding another pet to the house, since this one has fit in so nicely, and am resisting temptation. However, this guy at the Indy Humane Society has a photo that just calls to me. Something about that nose.

Speaking of dogs, I finally finished one of my RIP Autumn challenge entries: The Hound of the Baskervilles (link to complete text). I have been meaning to read this and a few other Doyle writings for years, and this finally got me motivated to do it - although not quite in time for the Halloween deadline. As dogs are top of mind right now, I couldn't help but read the book focusing instead on the poor animal so cruelly misused by the evildoer:

"The beast was savage and half-starved. If its appearance did not frighten its victim to death, at least it would paralyze the resistance which might be offered."

The author assumed that a dog such as this had no redeeming qualities, and in this fiction of course that is true enough. But I am put-off by the assumption of so many that certain breeds of dogs are destined to cause harm; personally, I was bitten once by a poodle (ouch) and another time by a rabbit (OWWW!) and find both far more scary nowadays.

Read this book sometime when you can notice the subtleties of engagement between Holmes and Watson (are they possibly more than friends?), reflect upon the now-ridiculous infatuation of Dr. Mortimer on skull shapes, and review the role of women in British society as represented by Miss Stapleton and Mrs. Lyons. Enjoy!