Because I have an old dog, people feel compelled to ask me The Question. If you have an older pet, you’ve heard it too. You know the one, right? They ask it with a touch of general interest and an overdose of premature sympathy. Yep. That’s the one:
“How long do (fill in name of breed/species) live?”
The question is almost always preceded or followed by that other question:
“How old is (fill in pet’s name)?”
People ask me these questions all the time. I’m pretty sure they do so to keep from saying, “Whoa. Your dog is seriously old. Isn’t he about to kick it?” So, ya know, thanks. Credit given. But for everyone who might want to ask in the future, here are the answers.
- First: I adopted Charlie when he was three months old in 2003. (As I write this, he’s nearly 10 years old.)
- Second: Beagles live forever.