XIV 



THE DOG AS A PET 



THE custom, old as the human race, of tak- 

 ing beasts and birds into the house as com- 

 panions and friends of the family, is one of 

 great interest. Not only do the creatures thus 

 placed under foreign and unnatural conditions 

 afford interesting subjects of study, but they 

 are useful in many ways, as protectors of our 

 property, guardians of our children, and safe- 

 ty-valves for unplaced affections. And besides 

 these most obvious uses, when properly appre- 

 ciated and enjoyed, they offer unequalled op- 

 portunity for lessons to our children in hu- 

 manity, justice, and unselfishness. Moreover, 

 they furnish an ever-fresh source of happiness 

 to those who love them ; happiness, too, with- 

 out alloy, since no conduct of theirs, however 

 base, can hurt us like the unkind words or 

 deeds of a human friend. 



Of all the pets we gather about us, the dog 



