Consider what world-recognized luminaries have to say about their dogs:

"If there are no dogs in heaven, then I want to go where they go." — Will Rogers
 
"Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really." — Agnes Sligh Turnbull

"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." — Mark Twain
 
"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. " — Robert A. Heinlein
 
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.  Inside of a dog, it's very   dark." — Groucho Marx
"Happiness is a warm puppy. " — Charles M. Schulz

"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." — Plato
 
"Living with a dog is easy - like living with an idealist. " — H.L. Mencken

Given this literary adoration of the four-legged among us, it’s easy to see why Stephanie and Bob Deaver regard their three dogs as their children. Stephanie explains: “Until recently, we had two greyhounds and a corgi. I adopted the greyhounds from a rescue organization operating out of the (now-closed) racetrack in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Bob adopted the corgi from a breeder in Montana who had intended to show her.  However, as she grew, the corgi’s body length exceeded the breed standard and she became a pet.  We blended our canine families in 2007 and moved to the Rochester area in 2009. Unfortunately, we lost one of our greyhounds to osteosarcoma just after Thanksgiving 2011.

 “We have since adopted a young English pointer who has a tremendous amount of energy.  Our greyhound and corgi are both 11 years old and they tolerate the pointer’s antics within reason.”

 Bob, a 3D digital character animator and RIT instructor, walks the dogs with his wife twice a day, every day, no matter the weather. He and Stephanie, an anthropological archaeologist and St. John Fisher instructor, are native-born Californians who have adapted well to Upstate New York.

They enjoy bicycling along the canal, kayaking, and hiking in the area’s parks and lake preserves. Stephanie notes, "Rochester has a lot to offer in terms of arts and culture, so we take advantage of the wonderful film programming at the Dryden and Little Theatres and music programs at the Eastman School of Music.”

For those interested in joining the ranks of pet-owners/dog-adorers, Stephanie encourages people to be honest about having the time and energy needed to own a pet. Further, she suggests, that potential dog-owners do research on difference breeds to determine which will be a good fit for the family in terms of size, temperament, energy level, and potential health issues.

“Once you have an idea of the breeds that match your family’s lifestyle," she advises, "look for adoptable dogs of those breeds, or mixes containing those breeds, at local rescue organizations such as Lollypop Farm, Joyful Rescues, and Greyhound Adoption of Greater Rochester.”
 
If you're thinking about following the Deavers' example, remember that Rochester has long and cold winters. It just may be time for you to discover the Schultzean joys associated with warm puppies.