In the beholder’s eyes
Throughout written history, beauty has been a topic of choice. We know the names of historic beauties going back to the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans. We write songs and poems, even full books, on the subject. We also accept that every coin comes with two faces: beautiful and ugly. No insult value, that’s just the way it is.
Since we keep dogs, and cats keep us, we also bestow the grade on our pets. Some dogs just look better than others. My own dog has a very particular smile.
In my daily news feed from CBC, the web gave up a wondersite today. The Sonoma-Marin Fair posted this year’s finalists in their Ugliest Dog contest, and I agree, they had some beauties (sic).
Be not afraid, these are (for the main part) rather small dogs. Able of afflicting a flesh wound but unable to eat enough to rank them as mankillers. In fact, I doubt there are any true villains in the pack, although some slippers may have suffered along the road to stardom. Photogenic they aren’t. Loveable, perhaps.
I’ve met none of the contestants. They are probably charmers in their own right, with suitably damp noses, pink tongues that soothe their masters at morning, and a bark that is as a bell ringing to their pet human. I assume. But as I am easily distracted, I’m glad these puppies live a continent away.
Now, back to my own smiling puppy, who obviously merits my attention. She has a nice personality, once you get to know her.
