This is six inches

Perception is important. Only a man could create a map where 100 miles equals one inch. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

Some people would say, "It's only a dog." Molly and Baby are my treasures.

For years I wanted to home cook for my dogs, but my vet kept talking me out of it. She never really gave me a good reason other than to let the professionals handle getting the correct nutritional balance.

I love my vet, so I trusted her. Sort of. I still fed my dogs some people food with her blessings. Beagles live for smells - how far behind can taste be?

Then we had the pet food scares. People lost their beloved pets as a conequence of poisoned food. I read  the book, "Food Pets Die For."

That did it for me. I copied some recipes out of that book and told my vet that I was not buying any more commercial food. Period. She said, "OK." <sigh>  I feel so strongly about it now that when I get another puppy or dog some day I would prefer it would not be raised on commercial food before I adopt it.

The downside is the actual cooking. Oh sure, it's fun to watch the beagles dance and prance, hoping this batch of food is going to be theirs. Molly doesn't leave the kitchen for the hours it takes me to be done. She gives me the soulful look, the begging eyes, and I laugh at her. I know she isn't starving.

Today I had to cook for the girls in preparation for my upcoming trip. The young man from the condo people was scheduled this morning to fix some minor issues in my new home. He came in, went to work, and I cooked.

Ingredients: chicken, broccoli, brown rice, water, celery, garlic, green beans, carrots, zucchini, and yellow squash. A whole chicken goes in with everything, then the chicken has to be de-boned. I was in the process of separating the chicken bones from the rest of the food when the young man came into the kitchen to work on one of the windows.

He almost crawled up my back. "What is that? What are you making, soup?" His nose was almost in the huge pot.

"Dog food."

"No way! There is dog food in there?" (good thing he is very attractive to make up for any IQ deficiencies)

"It's all dog food. It's just made with all human food."

"Wow, it looks great! Smells wonderful...."

I smiled, and handed him a fork. He hit some chicken and a few of the veggies.

"Your dogs eat better than I do."

"Don't tell your wife that."

Molly smiled. She didn't mind sharing a few bites with the nice man. She knew she was getting the rest of the pot to share with Baby over the next few weeks.

I proceeded to put the food in freezer containers for the dogs. The young man continued to be impressed with the idea of home cooking for dogs. I got the impression he might start barking soon. He has a new perception of dog food.