I do not have any pets. I used to own a dog. I like horses. 
I am divorced. I like dogs. I have a shih tzu. I am writing a book.
Tell me more about your book.  It's about my brothers and I growing up on a homestead in Alaska with a tryanical step-father and an indifferent mother. Wow that is really interesting. If you don't mind me asking is it based on your life or is it fiction? It's all true but I tried to make it an treatsy on childhood written by a twelve year old with a sense of humor. Well let me know when it is out I would love to read it.  Already submitted. Available on Amazon Books. However I have sincere doubts about it becoming a best seller. I probably won't make enough to cover the cost of printer paper but I felt I had to write it. Therapy, you know. Yeah, sometimes it is good for the soul to get things down on paper. So did you get a chance to take your shih tzu out since we last spoke?  Everyday. We both love to walk but the weather is changing. Supposed to get really cold with snow starting today so we might bail for a couple of days. Do you plan to get another dog soon? I've been thinking about it. I loved my dog, but they are a lot of work. Sometimes it is hard to figure out where to leave him when I'm on vacation. I think I would get a big dog next. Maybe a doberman.  They are such good companions even though they can be aggravating from time to time. They are also great for meeting people, but I'm sure you know that. I bet you talk to a lot of new people when you're at a dog park.  It depends on the other dog owner. Some of them are more neurotic than their dogs.