WE HAVE A BONE TO PICK -- WITH AMTRAK

Poppy and I have a PERFECT cousin who lives in mid-town in New York City. She occasionally visits us in the Connecticut River Valley where we live, dig up our mistress' gardens, and bark at all creatures large and small which trespass on our territory. She needs to see us every once and a while so that we can adjust her more than superb being to that of what we consider a realistic dog's existence and attitude.

My mistress believes that Poppy and I are descended from wolves. (We are Cairn terriers, after all.) She believes that our cousin, the Perfect One, the PUG, named Eloise descends from monkeys. Perhaps it is Eloise's corkscrew tail? Or perhaps it is Eloise''s high level of intelligence. She tried to get the competition out of the way yesterday morning. She used her head to butt Poppy down the deep, shallow stairs of the Historically Registered house in which we live.

However, we miss the Pug when she is not here, and very much enjoy her visits. After all, it is Poppy and I who have taught Eloise how to 'DO' puddles---we splash through them---not around them! After a few days with us, our cousin drinks from the Connecticut River, on hot days, during our group walks. She hasn't learned to romp in the River but that will come soon---if only we could see her more.

The problem is that Amtrak took over the Shoreline Commuter train several years ago. In the beginning, Eloise could jump on the Metro North from Grand Central Station, for a reasonable fee, to New Haven. From New Haven she would then transfer to the Shoreline East which would get her to the Old Saybrook Station where she could be picked up and arrive at our digs within fifteen minutes. The Poppy and I could begin the "undiscipling" of Eloise without delay. Then the company declared that no dogs would be allowed to travel on tier train.

As it stand now, our mistress must travel for about forty-five minutes each way to on I-95 ( An Interstate which runs up the Easter corridor of the U.S. One which is generally known for its accidents, large eighteen wheeler trucks which are prone to glue themselves to the bumpers of the cars in front of them as will as little red cars which go in and out of the allotted three lanes at record breaking speed. We choose not to discuss the large SUVs that sometimes drive their gym-fit owners rather than the owner driving them. As you know, a lot of it has to do with the number of hands the driver has been blessed with. One hand to hold the latte, one hand to comb one's coiff, one hand needed to change the CD, and one hand lofen to commune on the cell phone. Often Nature has neglected to offer them another---one to turn on the vehicle's headlights  in case of rain, as required by law in our state.

As I write at this point in time, most of our Keeper's friends only have two hands in which to perform tasks, and one brain to allow them to decide what the priorities are. We, of course, have four paws, but no drivers' license.

By not allowing dogs to travel on the Shoreline East, Amtrak looses passengers as well as revenue. They do the public no service by eliminating public transportation for all---and that means US! The company necessitates the need for more vehicles to travel on I-95, over faulty bridges, and to add to the smog, congestion and traffic at Union Station in New Haven.

When all is said and done, wouldn't it be to everyone's benefit to let Eloise come to Old Saybrook by train ...

Respectively submitted,
BEANS