Long walks on the beach and quiet meals are fine, but for true intimacy, for deep closeness, you have to sleep together, you know?

I am talking here, of course, about dogs.

I have always happily sacrificed a good night’s sleep for closeness with a dog. Before I was married, I slept for years on a mattress on the floor. All my old dog Toby had to do was walk into the bedroom and curl up next to me. No jumping required.

Then I got married, and subsequent dogs Boscoe and Riley slept at the foot of our bed. Rosie sleeps there now.

But Angus — Angus has his cage. His den. His kennel.

Call it what you will, it separates us at night. Every night, my husband hauls the crate up the stairs and I lock Angus inside. Sure, he’s in the bedroom with us, but Rosie is sprawled on the bed, books stacked high, reading light glowing, us within petting distance, everything all cozy and sweet. And Angus is across the room in a cage.

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