For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for November 10, 2023

Elly knows that she is the only one who takes care of the current dog. Elizabeth is going to be gone to the university in 3 years, so she won’t do it. John never did it. That just leaves April, who is too young. Don’t do it, Elly! You don’t need another dog.

Like Elizabeth is going to be responsible & do all the care & housebreaking & training? Ha!

She’s starting to cave

Get ready Edgar, they’re coming for you!

Unless you really want the dog, Elly, don’t listen to her. Kids always promise to do all the work if you’ll only let them have the dog or cat but they bail on you inside of a couple days and you’re doing everything.

But it’s the only way they’ll learn just how much work is involved in raising a dog. It’s a gateway to learning about raising kids.

who pays puppy support?

Elizabeth undoubtedly must be aware that 13-year old Farley’s time on earth is limited. What’s wrong with wanting his offspring??

Children ALWAYS claim they will look after the pet…for the first two weeks, forgetting it is a life long commitment. Once the new wears off, they ignore the pet and it falls to the parents who have the responsibility, and far too many of THEM, respond by taking the animal to the SPCA and dumping it there. A dog who did nothing wrong, just loved her family unconditionally, wonders why her family abandoned her, and when will they come back to get her. They don’t.

Since Elly’s the one to always take care of Farley, and Farley is the one raising April, does that mean Elly has actually been raising April by proxy this whole time?

I may need to re-think this entire strip.

I used to have a dog, but she died of bone cancer. It totally broke my heart. I am not sure I could get another one. I have two cats now.

That’s what they said about the fish, a bird, a hampster, etc…

We have a black bear roaming the neighbourhood.

I want to adopt him, so I keep leaving a picnic basket in the back yard. No luck, yet.

I already have a name selected … Reggie!

Well, the other side of the argument, Elle and family should take a pup. After all, their Farley is responsible for ALL the pups.

Or it could be where Elly tries to get rid of Edgar by placing a classifed ad for a “well-behaved dog who says I love you on command”. She then gets a call.

Elly: Great, I will see you next week. Oh, you want to hear Edgar? Sure. Come here boy…Elly pants and sticks her tongue out… Come on, say I love you for the nice man.

Elly{impersonating Edgar}: I love you

Elly{normal voice}: Good dog!talking to respondent You will come by Saturday? Great. Bye.

Later. Meeting with a redneck who is looking to buy Edgar

Elly: It is so hard for me to give up such a good pet, but the Pattersons are moving to an Islamic nation where dogs are forbidden.

Redneck inspects dog by grabbing Edgar’s testes; Edgar yelps

Redneck: Not a problem, little lady. This animal will be good for my dirt farm. You may have heard that only mules can pull plows. Impatient guys say that. Patient people know otherwise.

Elly has a tough choice. Do the Pattersons get a new pet or their neighbors get a free meal?

One of the worst reasons to breed a dog is the belief that the offspring will be a carbon copy of the parents. Puppies and kittens develop their own personalities. If the Pattersons get a puppy, it is not going to be a reincarnation of Farley.

you know she’s gonna

Yes, let’s all pretend we don’t know about Edgar.

They are only cute while they are puppies. Then the are mutts.