Just home from five wonderful days in Nashville where, among other things, I went to the zoo with my grandchildren.  It was a hot day,  80 degrees and humid, and, like me, most of the animals were wilted, sleeping under a bush or out for the duration right on the grass.

We walked around, looking for animals that might be awake, animals that might be interesting to see.

But the elephants were barely moving.

We saw an alligator just lying around.  Well, that’s kind of what alligators do when they aren’t hungry.

And then we got to the tigers.  One was walking slowly toward where we stood, safely separated from his territory.  Then he turned and sauntered away, that is, until Barky McBark, my trusty service dog, spotted him – and barked.

Suddenly the tiger turned and ran toward where we were, stopping our hearts, thrilling us to pieces.  Barky wagged her tail.  Mission accomplished.

She’s a great service dog.  She’s attentive and there when needed.  She adjusts to flying, sleeping in a motel, schlepping around to places that are, by and large, boring to dogs.  She’s quiet in museums, restaurants, the movies, the doctor’s office, the post office and even in the office at home where I write.  But show her sleeping wolves (in Memphis) or a tiger dragging its feet, and she’s full of the devil – just one little bark to make things more interesting.

You know the old saying, yes?  Great is the enemy of good.  We’re not perfect and our dogs need not be either.  Sometimes accepting pretty darn good is a pretty darn good thing.  And it sure wakes up sleepy tigers.