Happy Pet Parents Day!

Happy Pet Parents Day from your friends at the Dog Denizens of Genesee Park (DDGP)!

An insurance company selected April 17 as "Pet Parents Day" to honor the contributions of human owners to their animals. If your dog, cat, pygmy goat or hamster hasn't purchased you a gift, flowers or card, here's a chance for you to remedy the situation. You won't want to invest in an iPhone 4 - particularly since the iPhone 5 will be released this summer - but there are plenty of presents that you can still purchase... baubles, bangles and beads. Or a five-iron.

Happy Pet Parents Day!

Happy Pet Parents Day from your friends at the Dog Denizens of Genesee Park (DDGP)!

Need another excuse for sending flowers or greeting cards? Need rationale to purchase yourself a new trinket? VPI Pet Insurance has designated April 25 as "Pet Parents Day" to salaute those of us who love and indulge the animals with whom we share our lives.

Is this self-created holiday a plot by VPI to lure us into purchasing pet insurance policies? No doubt. But it seems to make sense that caring, responsible pet parents receive their props for caring for our dogs, cats, ferrets, hamsters, etc. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once observed that if Martians landed on earth and saw us walking our dogs -- strolling two or three steps behind and carrying poop bags -- that the aliens would think the dogs were in charge.

What do your pets provide? Nothing of monetary value... just intangibles. Love, companionship, and unwavering loyalty.

Well, today is not a time for false embarrassment or modesty. Celebrate your caretaker function. If you neglected to purchase an Apple iPhone, BlackBerry Bold or Motorola CLIQ for yourself to commemorate Professional Administrative Professionals Day... well, take this opportunity to atone and fork over the money. Freckles and Checkers would have wanted you to. Sadie implores you.