Happy Father's Day To All Pet Fathers

Today is Father's Day. It is only fitting we pay homage to all of you men out there with hearts of marshmallow.

You know who you are. You come in all shapes as sizes and from a variety of different family backgrounds.

Some of you had pets as children.

Some of you had never had an animal of any type growing up. No matter how you started out in life, you all now have one thing in common.

Some furry or hairy creature now has a hold on your heart that no human could crack.

Come on now, you each know who you are.

You are the man with your own chair that no other family member dares to sit in, but sure enough your little fur ball is always there waiting for you.

You are the guy who can never read the newspaper in peace because there is always a paw batting at it.

You are the fellow who drives around town with Fido as your navigator in the passenger seat happily greeting fellow drivers at every stop light.

You are the one who sooner or later stepped barefoot in that little accident left on the floor by your new friend.

You feed and walk the pup that your children swore THEY would take care of months ago when you adopted it, all along knowing it was going to end up being your dog.

You are the man who said, "No pets!" and then brought home the homeless, scrawny creature you saw outside work or on the side of the road.

You are the tough guy who never sheds tears, but were unable to hold back the flood when it came time to say that final goodbye to your furry best friend.

You are the man finally caving in to adopting a pet, but made it clear that there would be NO "Mommy - Daddy" nonsense, who now comes home to your "baby" with a happy, "Daddy's home."

You are the men who truly know the joy of loving and being loved by a devoted pet.

Today, I and your furry loved ones salute you!