The author's coworker commented on the number of dog photos displayed in the author's cubicle. This prompted the author to count and reflect on the photos, which number in the dozens and feature each of the author's nine dogs, as well as foster dogs and other animal friends. The photos capture happy memories and moments that provide comfort and smiles to the author during stressful times at work. While the coworker questioned the number of photos, the author finds them invaluable for the joy and warmth they provide.

1. Word Count711
Title:PetPhotosBringSmilestothe Workplace
No art
Recently,aco-workerstoppedbymysmall cubicle, snarleduphisnose and asked,“Man,how manydog
picturesdoyou needinhere?”
I toldhimthat I hadn’tgivenitmuch thought.He sighedandwalkedaway.
He’sone of “those”people whocan’tunderstand my close pack relationshipwith ninefurballs thatwet
the floor, take up all the space in the bed, shedonthe furniture,andchew upmy belongings.
But hiscommenthad litcuriosity.HowmanypicturesdidI have? I begana slow spininmy swiveling
chair to countthe images decoratingmyoffice space.
There are framedphotos,photocopies,postcards,photosinmagneticsleeves,photosonlittleclips,
and photostapedor pinnedup. There are tinyframesandlarge frames,some withone opening,others
withmultiple ones,andsoon.
These contain picturesof eachof mykids:Lucy, Charlie,Pearl,Hines,Daisy, Linus,Squirt,SadieBart,and
Sebastian.
You see,Ihave quite a bigfamilyathome.
Lucy and Linusare black labs;Charlie isa Germanshepherd/labmix.Hinesisarat terror(I meanterrier).
Daisyis a mix of DalmatianandGrey hound.Squirtismy little chi-wee-wee.Sadieisabrindle mix of
mutt.Thenthere are my cats: Bart an orange tabby,and Sebastian,aflame pointSiamese. Pearl,now
deceased,wasmyfirstfeline,afluffywhite catwithoceanblue eyes.
But my large furfamilyisnotthe onlyoneshanginginmyworkspace. I have picturesof myfosterdogs,
of rescue dogswhose adoptionIwasable tohelpwith,of animal friendsthatIhave made overthe
years,and of those whohave leftthisworldfora betterplace.
Atopthe cabinetthat encloses myworkarea,there are picturesof Charlie andLucy as pups.There is
one displayingthe firsttime IeverheldDaisyinmyarms. Onthe cornerof the cabinet, Ihave a tiny
framedpicture of Bart, sittingonmy shoulderonhisfirstdayat our home, Dogwood.Squirt’spicture is
of himpeekingoutof the blanketsonthe bed.
On myleftare picturesof Hines, the ratterror (Imeanterrier). One wastakenon Hine’sfirstday.He
lookstense,worried,andnotso certainof hissurroundings.The one besideitwastakenafterhe had
beenestablishedasmy “special little guy”:relaxed,confidentinhisplace andinhisaffections. The
imagesare like nightandday.

2. My picturesof Linusare veryspecial.He isthe onlydog I know that smiles24hours a day. Then there’s
Sadie Mae,our newestarrival. She isbeingfosteredthroughLastChance PetRescue inDickson.The
expressioninall of herpicturessayjustone thing:I’mstill alive.
On one wall of my cubicle,Ihave a picture of Sebastian,the waterlovingcat.He’slyingupsidedownon
the waterfilteringtank,happyasa clam.
Notonlyare there portraitsonmy walls, butthere are picturesof birthdays, backyard shenanigans,and
cheesygrins. There picturesof mykids napping, chewingthe cushionsoff the couch,peeingonthe rug,
and doingother“cute”thingsthat have made theminfamous.
On the shelf above myhead sitsa framedimage of mysweetPearl,lyinginherfavorite basketbythe
back window. Thisphotohasitsownspecial place,andof all my picturesof her,thisone is myfavorite.
I missmy little girl.
As I examined myphotos,Iforgotall aboutcounting them. These moments,capturedforeverand
displayed infunnylittlesquares forall tosee,are veryprecioustome.
Those happy,innocent,furryfaceshave apowerto warmmy heart and make me smile intimesof
stress,or whenI’mjusthavinga crappy day.
How manypicturesdoI have? Let’sjustsay there are a lot.
How many grins,chuckles, happythoughts,and warmfeelingsdo theyprovide?
The numberisinfinite,priceless,and muchcherished.