Dear Lilly...

... The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Placing a paw print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Racing me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I promise, if you do not sleep right on me you will survive. The bed or couch next to me is just as comfortable, if not more comfortable, as my legs, my lap, my stomach, or any other part of my body that you feel is the only place for you to rest your body, but I cannot buy anything bigger than a queen sized bed right now. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the edge of the bed to ensure your comfort. Dogs can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep you know. It i s not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other, stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out on the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm. Also, my pillow is mine, not yours. I paid for it and it is made for people not pooches.

For the last time, there is no secret exit from the bathroom! If, by some miracle, I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, bark, or get your paw under the edge in an attempt to open the door. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine attendance is not required.

The proper order for kissing is: Kiss me first, then go smell your butt or lick whatever you'd like. I cannot stress this enough.

Finally, in all fairness, dear Lilly, I have posted the following message on the front door:

TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:
(1) They live here...You don't.
(2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'fur'-niture.
(3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.
(4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't speak clearly.

Remember, dogs are better than kids because they
(1) eat less,
(2) don't ask for money all the time,
(3) are easier to train,
(4) normally come when called,
(5) never ask to drive the car,
(6) don't hang out with drug-using people;
(7) don't smoke or drink,
(8) don't want to wear your clothes,
(9) don't have to buy the latest fashions,
(10) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and
(11) won't go broke

Yours truely, Mommy!

P.S. I took bits and pieces of this from a friend but it's all true. Muah!! Love you Lilly Munch!