“What is it about dogs that allows them to touch our souls so deeply? Denied the gift of human speech and comprehension, what magic happens, what potent alchemy spins out from their soft paws, wagging tails, and lolling tongues, from their cold, damp noses and warm doggy breath? What hidden channels, what secret languages of exchange allow messages to pass, wordlessly yet powerfully, from their hearts to ours and back again? What habits, gestures, and expressions allow us to know each other better than we know ourselves? Dogs believe in us; by accepting our love, they grant us the wings to become our better angels and rise above our lesser selves.”