the connection between attachment theory and the new role of the dog was Debra Katz, a psychiatrist at the University of Kentucky. She contacted me via email after reading my previous book, Year of the Dog, in which I talked about my relationship with a troubled border collie. “I may be interfering in none of my business,” she wrote, “but the work you have done with your Devon bears resemblance to our attachment theory-based parent-child psychotherapy course. I gave your book to one of our staff, who concluded that your dog had an "attachment disorder," but you did the job just as well as a professional psychotherapist."

Our correspondence continued, Debra's colleagues sent me piles of books and scientific papers, and finally, my eyes seemed to be opened. I realized what I had observed day after day: people were very attached to their dogs, but, realizing the seriousness of their feelings, they rarely realized the reason for their occurrence. In my opinion, the dog got his new job precisely because of the attachment problems that a person has, and now gives him a chance to replay the old scenario, and sometimes even heal old wounds. Suddenly, in the stories unfolding before my eyes, an intellectual context began to emerge. Gradually, I became more and more convinced that it was the theory of attachment that could explain the problems associated with the life of dogs in America. Just like the problems of social disunity of people.

The presence of an emotional background in the relationship between a person and a dog has been convincingly and exhaustively proven. It is amazing how strong these emotional bonds are, however, as is the tendency to see the dog as a family member and partner. Most dog breeders do not consider it necessary to hide this attitude towards their pets. The same can be said about veterinarians, trainers, kennel owners, pet industry representatives who advertise products for dogs in the same way that other retailers advertise clothes and toys for children. According to research, the number of people who rely on emotional support from a dog, rather than from a spouse or parents, is steadily increasing.

However, this emotional imbalance creates unexpected complications. Realizing and learning their feelings for the dog, people immediately stopped talking frankly about loved ones: about parents, brothers, children, spouses. Some thought it foolish to admit how strong their love for and dependence on a dog was, believing that by doing so they make themselves a target for ridicule and open up vulnerabilities. Members of animal welfare groups were very afraid that local authorities would limit the number of dogs in one family and prohibit walks without a leash.

Therefore, at the request of the heroes of this book, I changed some of the names and other details, making these people unrecognizable. However, I did not invent anything and did not make any fundamental changes: each short story describes real people and their dogs.

Some of these stories have happy endings for dogs and humans, while others do not. As I talked with my characters, and read about other people and their dogs, I was struck by the apparent insufficiency of our understanding of how evolution has affected dog work. Dogs act as a blank canvas on which we are free to paint any picture, not always for the good of the canvas.

Everyone knows the mass of amazing, vivid examples of how dogs provide invaluable support to people. However, I—and others, too—have seen dogs being put under unbearable conditions and put under incredible pressure to play a complex emotional role in their owners' lives.

In a sense, this book is intended to remind you that a dog does not have the right to vote, so its owner must take his role responsibly, learn to understand his ward and, if necessary, be able to speak out and act in his favor.

Once again, Rushmore vividly reminded me of the drama of relationships. A few months passed, and he and Kate disappeared from Mills. Apparently, they no longer need company or advice on training.

In part, this turned out to be true. Atмерно через год после нашего знакомства я с удивлением увидел Рашмора, трусившего по тропинке следом за моими собаками. This time he seemed delighted to meet us and my pockets stuffed with treats. He licked my dogs affectionately and wagged his tail.

Behind him walked Kate with a lanky guy she introduced as her fiancé. She explained that she had not been to the Mills for several months as "a new relationship" had come into her life.

While we were chatting, Rushmore walked away from the path to the bushes, not paying the slightest attention to us. Obviously, he ceased to be the "meaning of life" for Kate, now he did not force her to live and saved her from heartache and loneliness.

Hank - that was the name of the young man - seemed to me a good guy, but he was absolutely indifferent to dogs. He didn't even look at my border collies, which no true dog lover would, and made several jokes about Rushmore's bad mouth smell, shedding fur, and dripping saliva, which every dog ​​breeder takes for granted and doesn't honor.. Kate and Rushmore lived with him, and this fact did not inspire me with optimism about the future of the dog. Hank hinted that the presence of a dog does not contribute to maintaining order in the house, where without him it would be cleaner and more comfortable. I realized with horror that if Kate stayed with Hank, Rushmore would have to leave.

I knelt down and called out to the dog. Rushmore came over, I scratched him behind the ear, and he licked my face, waving his long tail. Since our last meeting, he has noticeably put on weight; Kate explained that she did not have enough time to train.

Frankly, I did not know how to relate to these changes. I was happy for Kate, a kind and sweet woman who has finally recovered from her bereavement. She did what everyone in her place should have done - she found a new object of affection. But what about Rushmore? Will it become redundant now? What if she gives him up, sends him to a shelter or to rescuers?

"Rushmore, let's go," Hank called impatiently. The dog didn't seem to hear him. He galloped into the forest after a passing golden retriever and did not even look back.

I
Dogville, USA
At всей красоте тенистого Монтклера, невозможно оставить без внимания тот факт, что он расположен в самом сердце Нью-Джерси, подобно земле обетованной среди безбрежного океана уродливых пригородов и индустриальных пейзажей, составляющих лицо штата.

Despite everything, Montclair is still an oasis of old buildings, and its streets are still decorated with giant oaks and maples planted eighty years ago; however, after each strong thunderstorm, their number is noticeably reduced. There are far more movie theaters than hardware stores, and Thai and Japanese restaurants are more common than fast food eateries. The main concern of the residents of the town is upbringing and comprehensive development of a promising younger generation.

Born as a holiday home for wealthy New Yorkers, Montclair subtly reflects the wealth inequality that has become a hallmark of modern America. The living rooms of the spacious, well-maintained mansions that crown the Watchung Hills range offer a wonderful panorama of Manhattan. The poor people huddle in cramped apartments and tiny houses in the southern outskirts.

No one will remember when exactly Montclair was finally divided into two halves - Upper Montclair and Old, or Lower, Montclair, located on the plain. They are united by a common administration, municipal services and a network of educational institutions, but Upper Montclair remains a fashionable area with a shopping center famous for exorbitant prices and its own zip code.

Partly because of its proximity to Manhattan's hotbeds of culture and media, Montclair draws bohemian crowds of writers, artists, publishers, journalists, and TV producers. The most insignificant urban incidents are immediately reflected in the pages of The New York Times - after all, a good half of the newspaper's employees live here, at least, this is the impression.

Many see Montclair as a kind of surrogate for Manhattan - a place where you can watch another "immortal" movie or taste a newfangled dish.

To run into a New Yorker journalist or a soap opera star in a church or an organic supermarket, or to watch Yogi Berra, the legend of the New York Yankees, get his car out of repair, for the locals inhabitants is a common thing.

Lesser-named residents go daily to work in Manhattan or in suburban business complexes, of which there are many in this area. However, every day there are more and more who do not get up for days on end because of the computer in their home office, going out into the yard only to meet a mail van or a home delivery truck - whose drivers they have long known by name.

Newcomers - attracted by the reconstruction of the railway, the ever-increasing ability to satisfy the most refined cultural needs and the well-known tolerance (all prices for real estate have long been soaring beyond the clouds) - rushing here at full speed from Brooklyn and Manhattan, enriching the social life of the city, already intense, militant, politically sustained note.

In addition to all of the above, Montclair plays the role of a kind of social laboratory, where each new trend is tested before spreading throughout the country. Mothers leave the household and go to work, leaving their children in the care of nannies, while fathers stay at home; after some time, the mothers, having parted with illusions, return home