The Whitehall Ledger - Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana

Often on my daily neighborhood walk, I pass a woman and her dachshund, who used to bark at me frantically. I found it irritating. One day, on a whim, I decided to go beyond our customary nods. I asked her how I could make friends with her dog.

"Oh, Petey gets upset when he sees people wearing hats," the woman said. "It's just too tiring to tell everyone." Because more people wear headgear in winter, she went on, it's a hard season for Petey.

That was enough to make me fall in love with that dachshund. Now, when I spot Petey in the distance, I quickly pull off my hat. It's become a bit of a...