A cat finds us guilty until proven innocent - and even then treats us as if we're guilty. I prefer the scruffy feel of the dog to the putting-green smoothness of the cat, a tail that wags happily to the tail that curls and uncurls like a cobra, an exuberant bark to maddeningly complacent purr. Through the ages, dogs have guarded homes, herded sheep, sniffed out bombs and drugs, and collared criminals. They comfort the elderly, and some have been used in trying to lure autistic children out of their shells. Canines have a record of heroism approaching that of humans.
Altruism is anathema to the feline nature, however.
Indeed, dogs set the golden standards for loyalty. When Odysseus arrived home disguised as a begger after an absence of 19 years, the only living thing to recognize him was his aged dog, Argos, who wagged his tail and then died. Not only are dogs better than cats, but in many ways they are better than humans. 1999 - 2000 Netglance Inc. All Rights Reserved.