Robert Kirby: In the absence of pets, we make do

My family has been dogless since the world’s stupidest yellow Labrador died four months ago. There were no complications. It was just her time.Daisy’s death left a hole in our hearts but also less hair on the floor and less slobber on the furniture.With the possible exception of the military and my church mission, this may be the longest stretch of time I’ve ever spent without a pet.Even then I had objects of my affection that could be called pets. For example, in 1972, there w