I was having a pub lunch with my friend Tony - and his giant dog Jasper - and our meal was constantly interrupted by dog-lovers, coo-ing and ah-ing at the aforesaid Great Dane. Not at Tony, obviously. Or me; I was a non-person in the interaction. Apart from the comfort which Jassie brings him, Tony loves the camaraderie of the doggie fraternity. A couple of days ago, on a walk, I heard someone saying to someone else "I love having a dog because people come up and talk to you".
Wait! You can talk to other people, you know. Is this some kind of quasi Masonic secret society? And I don't have the password? Come to think it, when I first met Jasper I was impressed that he would respond to "Sit!" even from me, a stranger. "He'll shake your hand, you know" said Tony. Aha! The Masonic handshake. I was right.
I declined.
I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member [Groucho Marx]