By popular demand, meet Molly, The American Bulldog.

Molly officially became a Baseman in late November of 2010. She, along with her sidekick Shane, is a rescue dog from the Ace of Hearts Organization. Volunteers across Los Angeles County join forces to rescue, foster, train and fundraise on behalf of these dogs who have no voice.

Molly is a purebred; Shane is a mutt. Both dogs exhibit consistent devotion and bring a level of happiness to our home that would not be possible without their wagging tails and endless shenanigans.

If you are considering a pet, please, pretty please, rescue an animal from an adoption agency or from a shelter. Smiling at you from behind bars and from within crates, you will find every breed, every size and every age. If you don’t take them, well, it’s not a happy ending. Thousands upon thousands of dogs are killed every year. Unless you have big plans for showing your dog, leave breeders out of the mix. And the pet shops that stock their shelves with dogs from puppy mills? You’d lose your lunch if I described them to you. Save your appetite and invest that money into a fabulous dog trainer, some yummy dog snacks or some fun dog obedience classes.

                                              Molly and cousin Storm on a walk

One of the greatest gifts of having a dog is having a walking partner. The outdoors offers me a chance to sort out my thoughts and to solve problems in a way that I can’t do if I’m just sitting indoors and fretting. Being with Molly, who is ALWAYS ready to bound outside when I have a leash in hand, reminds me that we both need daily exercise. Walking is good for our health and for our beauty regimen. (Check out those muscles.) It’s also great for our self-esteem. I can’t say enough good things about having a trusty dog.

THE DOG

The truth I do not stretch or shove

When I state the dog is full of love.

I’ve also proved, by actual test,

A wet dog is the lovingest.

                        — Ogden Nash