One of my favorite books -- Robert the Rose Horse, by Joan Heilbroner -- details the struggles of an unemployed horse. I often ponder the poignant words of Robert, the protagonist:
Fathers had work.
Mothers had work.
Every one had some kind of work.
But there were not many jobs for a horse.
Robert's words resonate with me. Options for a fluffy dog, particularly in this economy, are limited.
So I was intrigued to read "Pets Help Sell Manhattan Apartments" in the New York Times two weeks ago. The article outlined an opportunity that seems tailor-made for a cute dog such as myself: providing charm, warmth, and character to seduce prospective buyers of properties up for sale.
I have heard of similar schemes where, for example, college men rent a puppy to serve as a chick-magnet. But that sort of work seems a bit beneath me. Here I feel I'd be more directly contributing to the GNP.
Is it outlandish to expect that the prospect of a dog snoozing on the couch could increase buyer perception of a home's value by 20% or more?
