pet connection

Every week for more than a year, I’ve driven a new SUV, van, hatchback, wagon, truck or crossover to review as a vehicle for dogs for our DogCars.com site.

There have been some wonderful dog cars in all categories, from the fun and economical Suzuki Forenza wagon ($16K and packed with features, plus a responsive and comfortable drive) to the big trucks like the Ford150 King Ranch Edition (Cowgirl up!) to the oh-so darling Mini Cooper S (more room than you’d think) to the best dog car ever (so far), the Honda Element.

This week, though, I’ve been living large: A Mercedes GL450. The Big Mercedes SUV. And yes, it’s a pretty darn good dog car, if you really want to put muddy retrievers in an $80K vehicle. The review will go up on DogCars.com pretty soon. In the meantime, just look.

And imagine, because after noon today, that’s all I’ll be doing. My week with luxury is over, and they’re bringing me another car to drive. No more having the proprietor of a jewelry store pop his head out at five minutes to closing when you park in front (to go to the restaurant next door) and ask: “Would you like us to stay open for you? It’s no problem at all!”

That never happens with my own Plymouth minivan!

Oh well. But then, no dirty looks from people who think you’re not only driving a massive, Earth-screwing SUV, but the most expensive one you could find. And no dirty looks from the people who want to know why you have one, and they don’t.

Now I’ll just be back to people giving me dirty looks for not washing my 10-year-old minivan, ever. Ahhh, real life at last!

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In other DogCars.com news, I got help. Keith Turner, a former newspaper auto editor and syndicated auto columnist, is joining the DogCars.com team, along with Kim Campbell Thornton, one of our bloggers here and the pet-care columnist for MSNBC.com. Keith will be helping me with industry contacts, editing content and managing the readers forum. Kim is already reviewing products for traveling dogs.

We’re tweaking the site now, and it’ll be packed with new features by Sept. 1.

The help of Kim and Keith could not be better timed, since Dr. Becker and I have contracts for two new books on the way and — yes! — I’ll soon by up to my eyeballs in book writing again. Good thing I like the work, because there’s sure plenty of it.