DEAR ABBY: My sister and I want a dog, but our mother won't let us have one. When we asked her why not, she said, "Because dogs poop, pee, get things dirty and bark."
We told her, "We will train it, feed it, clean up after it. We'll even pay for it." We really would, but she still says, "NO!"
What should we do to convince our mom to let us get a dog? -- SON AND DAUGHTER IN ALBUQUERQUE
DEAR SON AND DAUGHTER: I can't claim this advice as my own. It was penned by Jeff and Bil Keane, the noted cartoonists. They said, "The best way to get a hamster is to first ask for a pony." That logic might also apply to a puppy.