Dear Eric: I am 71 years old. Our dog, who has been with us for 17 years, has cancer. He has only days to live. For my entire life, I have lived with pets. While I would like to have another dog, for the first time in my life, it is likely that a new pet will outlive me. Would it be thoughtless for me to take on a new pet at this stage of my life?

— Grieving Granddad

Dear Granddad: I’m so sorry to hear about your beloved pet. I know that there’s a lot of love there and a lot of grief. There are many pets that still need love, so please don’t let your stage of life impede you. Consider adopting a senior pet, as they can sometimes be harder to adopt.

Dear Eric: Several weeks ago, I asked whether someone’s refusal to use his hearing aids was being disrespectful to me after I had asked him

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