What To Call Your Puppy

Donna Kelley from Montreal writes, “Dear Grandmother Winsome, will giving my puppy a cute name help her get adopted when I decide that I’m ready for a new puppy?”

Donna, it probably wouldn’t hurt.  But the truth is it really doesn’t matter what you call the dog.  Pick a word or phrase that you like.  When you are ready to drop the dog off at the shelter, you can tell them any old name.  They’ll be none the wiser.  If by some chance the dog does get adopted, the new owners will probably give it another name anyway, one that suits their inclinations.  In the more likely scenario that the dog will get gassed, it may give the shelter worker a laugh if you say the dog is named Charcoal or Anne Frank.