[meristohm]

Since my dog died I walk more and get better exercise. It's okay to walk alone (easy for this White male to say...). Please don't take lightly the adoption of a companion animal (or other type of working animal); we choose how they live and often how they die, and they are each an individual worthy of love and care (hence, as helph67 might be pointing at, their help in getting us outside to meet their needs, IF we actually care; I've seen too many people who have a dog as an ornament or solely to guard their property as the dog gains weight and gets cranky).