About the animals in his life sentimental this author is not, for, from his first dog to the lion dog he boarded, they are one and all against him. Ripper, a gift from his uncle, was a trial to everyone; canaries in the bedroom were a personal affront; guinea pigs and an alligator wind up his younger days. At college there was Oscar who played havoc with his fraternity life as well as with his dates; a hound even accompanied him on his honeymoon; animals kept creeping into a writing assignment for the St. Louis Ad Club; rate were companions on another trip; a rented house (""no parties, no pets"") was the scene of many a furred and feathered invasion. And more -- for Kyrie was a dog who liked things nice and was miserable living in a trailer, while birdwatching, a lost raccoon pet and goldfish, who were a luxury item, provided him with additional irritants. A fine jaundiced-eye attitude towards man's best (and not so good) friends keeps this on a fairly funny pitch all the way through.