My dog Bo has to serve double duty. He buoys my mood of course but he is also responsible for my 97 year old dad. Dad is slowly declining in dementia and resents the gradual erosion of his power and agency; not allowed to drive, can’t remember to tend to his personal business, but he can still pick on Bo, order him around, yell at him. Bo takes it all without apparent resentment, sticks close to dad often sleeping up against his feet, following him into his bedroom until dad goes to sleep before joining me. Bo is now under consideration for sainthood…