We spent the Holidays in the Valley of the Sun, aka Phoenix, with my wife's parents watching the rest of the country get pummeled by winter. Actually it was kind of cool in Phoenix barely making it to seventy most days. I did manage a couple of mountain bike rides in the White Tank mountains in my summer attire and I walked around in shorts most of the time.

My wife's parents live on the Western fringe of Phoenix in a house ruled by two dogs. Dog number one is Mickey, a Bichon Frise and dog number two is Zach, a Cairn Terrier. Both are neutered males that pretty much have the run of things. They do spend nights in their respective crates in the garage, but by day they lounge on any available piece of furniture.

It seems that their main function is to alert us humans to the presence of passing coyotes. This happens with surprising frequency by the way. I saw the same three coyotes making the rounds every day we were there. There is swale of common ground running behind the houses and the coyotes have worn a trail right down the middle.

One morning I was shocked to see a coyote running up and down the neighbor's fence line playing with their Toy Poodle. Both canids were wagging tails and play bows were in evidence. I had to wonder what would have happened had the fence not been secure. Poodle would have been on the menu for sure.

Besides keeping a watchful eye for coyotes, Mickey and Zach take care of my father in law, Ardie. Ardie is a retired nuclear physicist and former Vice President of the University of Missouri. He built a nuclear reactor at the University in the 60's that is still a state of the art research facility to this day. Basically he's a genius. The highlight of my academic career was when the Dean of the Veterinary College noted that Ardie was in attendance on my behalf at our Veterinary School Graduation Ceremony.

Ardie has Alzheimer's disease and he's been dealing with it quite admirably for several years now. We've watched his slow decline with dismay over the years. It's really painful for my wife and her siblings, not to mention for my mother in law, Beth, Ardie's wife of 66 years.

Everyone chips in to take care of Ardie these days, especially Micky and Zach. They greet him every day the same way they've greeted him for years. There is always a smile on Ardie's face when the dogs make a fuss over him and if he sits down one or the other makes a beeline for his lap. It's obvious to even a casual observer that this is a special relationship.

You hear a lot of talk about dogs being part of the family these days. Mickey and Zach are really important members of our family. They could care less that Ardie has trouble remembering which one is which. They love him just the same and they always will.