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dog on a leash calls out to me. I’m sitting on the sand with all the dogs around me; we look as if we’re about to play a game of duck-duck-goose. Or I guess we could call it dog-dog-person.
    I stand up, and she introduces herself.
    â€œI’m Sylvia Adler. We just arrived on Seagate, and I heard all about your doggie day care, Remy. My husband and I bought a place down by the lighthouse, and we’re very busy with renovations and construction. It’s hard to have a dog around when you’re knocking down walls.” She shakes her head. “I’ve just been so worried about Ritzy. She could get sick from the dust!”
    â€œSure. We’d love to help.” I look over at Bennett, Micayla, Calvin, and Claire, and they’re sitting with the dogs now, petting them and chatting. The dogs are in good hands, and Claire looks much better than she did before. It’s amazing what dogs can do for someone’s mood. Even a few seconds with a dog makes you immediately calmer and more relaxed.
    â€œTell us a little bit about your dog.” I motion for the others to come over, so I can introduce them. I think it’s really important that the owners meet all of us.
    â€œHer name is Ritzy, short for Ritz-Carlton, my favorite hotel.” She smiles. “I’m a world traveler, and it’s the only hotel I’ll stay at. Anyway, you can call her Ritzy, or RC. She’s a Jack Russell terrier, and she’s very friendly and smart. She gets along well with other dogs, and she loves a good tummy rub.”
    â€œWho doesn’t, right?” I laugh, and Sylvia nods. She’s clearly a braggy dog owner who thinks her pup is better than anyone else’s. But I can’t really fault her for that. Ritzy does look pretty cute and very well-behaved. It wouldn’t surprise me if Ritzy’s been taking doggie etiquette lessons.
    The Jack Russell sits up perfectly straight, as if she’s trying to impress us. Her brown ears are perked up, waiting for me to tell her something very exciting.
    Ritzy’s owner thanks me and says she needs to get home. “I’d better get back to my contractor. He’s driving me crazy.”
    Bennett organizes a Frisbee game, and Ritzy joins in as if she’s known all the other dogs forever.
    Right then, Lester arrives. Mrs. Decsini drags the cocker spaniel across the sand like he’s a kid who doesn’t want to go to school.
    â€œLester!” I exclaim, already sensing that he needs a little extra TLC.
    â€œHello, Remy,” Mrs. Decsini says. “He’s having a tough summer. I don’t know what’s bugging him lately.”
    â€œReally? I’m sorry to hear that. Tell me about his year.”
    She stops to think for a second. “His year was fine. Nothing unusual. Lots of good times with his best doggie friend, Turbo the poodle. We took him to all the kids’ sporting events. Everything was great.” She shrugs. “Oh, except for one thing. We tried to give him some of his old toys for Christmas. Usually we go all out, but it was an expensive year.” She looks sad all of a sudden. “We even had to sell our piano to complete some necessary home renovations.” She looks at me and shrugs again. “I have no idea why I’m going into any of this. But anyway, for Christmas, we wrapped up his old things, toys he hadn’t played with in a while.” She shakes her head. “He totally knew. He even growled at us. Come to think of it, that may have been when his mood changed.”
    I try not to laugh. People don’t like old gifts, and neither do dogs.
    â€œHopefully some time with you and the other dogs will help,” she tells me. “We rented a house with a few other families this summer. Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe he’s grown antisocial in his old age.”
    â€œI see.” I bend down to pet Lester. “He’s in good hands with