My dog, Ruby
I think every writer should have a dog (if possible).
Dogs are the ultimate companions for people who like to be alone. They're quiet enough to let you work, but active enough to unglue you from the chair every now and then. They're more demanding than cats, but less demanding than children or other adults. You can concentrate with a dog in the room. You can read with a dog outside (I do this every day). They open your eyes to things, and take you outside of your head. They keep you grounded.
Dogs also give us the opportunity to love and nurture another being. Initially, I was worried that owning a dog might be too distracting, but I actually enjoy the responsibility. Sometimes it's frustrating, like the other day when I had to stop a really great writing flow to take her to a vet appointment. But ultimately, it's always rewarding (I was glad I took her to the vet).
Their loyalty is good for the soul, perhaps even the ego, which we all know is fragile with writers. Dogs never get mad at you, or criticize you, or even question you. All they want is to please you, to be near you, to love and be loved by you. People have told me that when I leave a room, Ruby will stare at the door until I return. That loyalty is another reason why she's allowed to be off-leash so much. She might run off to chase something, yes. But she would never just run away.
Ruby brings so much into my life, it's hard to put it into words. She has helped (and continues to help) me heal from loss. She makes me laugh. She reminds me to play and be curious, to stretch and get plenty of rest. She provides me with companionship and affection. She protects me better than any alarm system. She also provides structure to my day, which is broken up into three-hour stretches of work followed by a 30-minute break outside (longer when it's warm out). She sleeps while I'm working, but when I've worked for longer than usual, or past a certain hour, she will come over and put a paw on my leg, like "okay, it's time to stop now." Sometimes I feel like I belong to her, not the other way around.
The other day I told a friend that "if I were to die before my dog, she would be my main concern." I try not to think about it very often, or of the more likely scenario that she will go before me. But every now and then I remember that Ruby and I only have a relatively short time together (hopefully, the long end of short). My next thought is always the same, "That's why I'm giving her the very best life I possibly can." Whenever that day comes, I will mourn her terribly, but I will also know that she lived a great life, full of fun and love, and we gave each other all that one could possibly give to another.
Here are some photos of other writers and their dogs (many of which I got from here):
Amy Hempel
Donna Tartt and Pongo (photo by Jill Krementz)
Dorothy Parker and Misty (photo by Roy Schatt)
E.L. Doctorow and Becky
Edith Wharton and her pups
John Steinbeck and Charley
Kurt Vonnegut and Pumpkin
Maurice Sendak and Herman (photo by Tim Knox)
Stephen King
Virginia Woolf and Pinka (photo by Gisele Freund)
William Faulkner and pups (photo by Henri Cartier-Bresson)
For those of you who own cats, you're also in good company.
Tennessee Williams and Sabbath
William S. Burroughs and Ginger
More pictures of writers and dogs: https://www.tumblr.com/search/writers%20and%20dogs
A fun post about pets who were loved by famous authors: http://www.brainpickings.org/2013/04/29/literary-pets/
A site that shows writers at work - some with their pets: http://writersatwork.pfauth.com/
Happy creating!