The great dogs do not disrupt our lives, they simply enter them and join our lives. Once, I went to the dentist and left Red home. They sent me back to get him. When they call to remind me of my appointment, they remind me to bring Red. He lays down outside of the examining room and waits for me.

His many girlfriends and admirers come to visit with him. Tiffany and Red are good friends, I am no stranger to dental work, thanks to my loving grandmother, who had a Mom and Mop store and saved me candy of all kinds.

Red, like any spirit dog, has entered my life for a purpose, he helped me to open up to new experience, he was my magical helper when we gave up the first Bedlam Farm and moved here, he has guided me into my work at the Mansion. He is a part of me now, and I am a part of him. We don’t either of us make much fuss about it, it is just the way it is.

Red and I rarely cuddle, and I almost never touch him. Once a day, in the morning, he puts his head on my knee and we talk a bit. But he is always there, anywhere where I go. I am lucky to have another spirit dog. And in the dentist chair, when I get edgy, I turn around to see how he is. He is always watching me to see how I am. I suppose I am part of his therapy work.