What is a friend?

The month of May in the mid-Columbia river basin is a time for plants to thrive. Weeds also. I find myself in the early hours pulling undesirable plants. I am not the only one active at dawn. Neighborhood dogs yap or bark when I step out my door. They bark at every school kid that walks past. "Man's" best friend is left at the end of chain or inside a high fence while the owner goes off to work thinking the dog is happy to be outdoors. Think again. Animals get every bit as lonesome as humans. They bark at anyone passing by. Not because they are protecting their masters by warning you off but because they are happy to have company. Stop and talk to them and watch their tails wag in friendship. No offputting growls for greeting.

There is no question that humankind found the wolf or other wild dog and made it dependent. Through patience and careful genetic attention, humans developed a species of animal for their protection and companionship and frequently a ready food source. Captain Clark of the Lewis & Clark Expedition wouldn't eat salmon in the Snake river at spawning time. He bought the Indians' dogs and ate them instead.
Undoubtedly different animals were domesticated by human colonies far removed from each other. Much lore is attributed to early species of dogs that may have occurred when humans first stood upright millions of years past. No matter.
Look at official dog lists and wonder at the specificity of breeds worldwide. Look up and down your street and see the variety of canine creatures. There appears to be no limit. But are those dogs bred and raised with companionship or protection as the top priority? I wonder. For half the day dogs are left confined and lonely. Hugging, tickling and loving the rollicking animal happens for a few minutes. The dog owner is happy to feed and otherwise care for the animal. Is the dog happy? As long as the owners interpret the association in their own way, the relationship is going to continue. And I question the depth of the friendship.
Naomi Sherer