BLUEFIELD — I need a puppy. When I open the front door in the evening, I want to hear the pitter patter of four little feet and a cute bark. My puppy would wag his tail in delight. I would be glad for the company, instant best friends. I can imagine long walks in the park, trips to the puppy stylist and fashionable doggy outfits in pink. My little pooch would be well-behaved with good manners. No wild barking, no fleas and no expensive vet bill — a perfect pet.

Yeah, right. Managing Editor Samantha Perry can quickly dispel any dreams of well-behaved puppies. An animal lover with three dogs — a Neapolitan mastiff and two golden Labrador retrievers — she shares plenty of doggie tales with the newsroom. Pugsley, who easily weighs more than 150 pounds, is always the center of each story. On a good day, he might eat just one pair of her designer shoes. If she leaves the closet door open, Pugsley will chew up a three course meal on sandals, boots and heels.

He likes good leather shoes too. Sometimes, the huge dog leaves love marks — innocent scratches from his claws — on her arms and legs. Ouch. And then, there is the slobber. Like a mother, Samantha proudly shows off Pugsley’s pictures. Cute dog, but slobbers quite a bit in my opinion. Regardless of his misadventures in the Perry’s animal world, he is still king of the household. She likes him and his two “sisters” — Penny and Honey — a lot. She would probably bring them to work, if she could.



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In a few weeks, she might get the chance. On June 25, offices and businesses will celebrate the 12th annual “take your dog to work day.” Another reason why I need a dog. Imagine dogs in the newsroom — employees at the Daily Telegraph could host a lunchtime show and tell, featuring dogs of all breeds. Samantha’s office would be crowded with not one dog, but three. Even copy coordinator Sue Richmond could bring her dog Dusty to work. I wonder what the noise level would be like with a newsroom full of barks, whimpers and howls? Callers on the phone might think they accidentally dialed the local animal shelter instead of the newspaper. As writers and editors, we typically like a bit of peace and silence during the workday. The majority of us are the silent types; we don’t bring anything to work other than pen and paper either. The big question: Could we put together a newspaper for our readers with a couple of dogs running loose on the third floor? Bathroom breaks, playtime, naptime and don’t forget about feeding times, dogs require a lot of time, space and patience. We run short on those three requirements in the newsroom.



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Time. It is the one thing that doesn’t allow for a cute, friendly little puppy. When I slide the key in the front door, dusk is usually settling over the horizon. A poor animal would be lonely; I would feel guilty for spending time working, running and visiting family and friends. As much as I want a new best friend — a little terrier would be nice — I don’t want to deprive an animal of his or her equal share of companionship. And when I start my speech about needing a pet, I know life is too hectic for a pet. Sure, there are alternatives. Fish, birds and cats are less demanding. But I would rather have a pet rock than substitute my desire for a breed from the canine world. After all, I have special memories tied to my first pet, an Alaskan Husky named CoCo. OK, so he really belonged to my dad, who brought the animal into the family when he met my mom in the late ’70s. Fluffy and white, it was great having CoCo around until he ate my pacifier. I obviously forgave him for destroying the life line of babyhood but I still remember burying my hands in his white fur, hanging my arms around his neck. By the time I was in elementary school, old age caught up with CoCo.

If I could bring a dog to work on June 25, I would like to bring CoCo. At least he could sort of compete with my boss’ massive animals. Right now, I imagine a small dog like Dorothy’s Toto, if I had enough time and devotion. Would I carry him in a purse? Hopefully no, but I won’t offer any guarantees on the pink doggie outfits. But years from now, when life slows down and the yard is bigger than a vertical lot, I want another white husky, even if he barks, chews and slobbers on shoes.

Jamie Parsell is the Lifestyle editor of the Daily Telegraph. Contact her at jparsell@bdtonline.com.