The absolute cuteness of this picture cannot be denied. Of course, that is why it was taken.

Like any person who lives with animals, we have various and sundry digital and pre-digital images of pet cuteness. I am not normally a fan of cute. But real-life animal cuteness is difficult to deny.

Actually, this began as an image-posting test. Looking through the few pictures on my computer (most are on The Saint's computer) this was one of a few, semi-decently composed, personally owned images I could find. So I went with cute.

I started thinking about other cute pet images. Somewhere in a dusty box labeled 1973 is an 8mm film of our three family dogs playing. Gypsy, the St. Bernard, Binker my oversized Sheltie, and my sister's Papillon. Papillons, if you are not familiar, are about the size of a Chihuahua, but with long fluffy hair, and "butterfly" ears. The three of them often played a dog version of crack the whip, holding onto each others' tails. Sometimes Max the Papillon would fly through the air like a growling white bird, with teeth.

Even today, the thought of them playing together makes me smile. Max was a feisty little dog.

I was certainly smiling as I took this picture of Suzy and Cocoa, and hoping the flash wouldn't wake them up. It still makes me smile now.

No, this is not going to be the "cute pet picture of the week" blog. I'll leave that to someone else.

But still.

Awwww.