Billy the Boston terrier exuded empathy. It was in the way he sought people out who were upset or sad, whether they even knew it themselves. It was in his big brown eyes, framed by the ampersands of his large, bat-like ears, and the way he could return the power of the human stare for minutes on end without so much as licking his lips, like some kind of infinitely understanding aunty.

          Emilio had found Billy at the pound with Jamie when his son wasn’t much more than 4 years old. Ostensibly, the little dog with the big eyes was for him, but it wasn’t long before Emilio, Jamie and Billy arrived at an understanding. As far as Jamie was concerned, Emilio felt it was important to be strict. But with Billy, that the immense tenderness of his heart showed through.