In Praise Of Making Out With Your Dog

By Michael Musto Wed., May 30 2012 at 10:30 AM

This doesn't come from me, mind you.

I don't even have a chia pet.

But actor Joe Pantoliano says in his new book that when he got depressed, he started accumulating dogs and found that smooching with the pooches was a delightful and safe act of affection.

Writes Joe:

"I loved the dogs. I let them kiss me. The kids would say, 'That's disgusting!' and I would reply, 'Have I ever gotten sick?'

"My dad once told me that a dog's tongue is clean and healing.

"A human tongue has 600 percent more microbes and it's filthy.

"And yet people French kiss each other on the first date!

"Meanwhile, dogs are 600 percent cleaner and they don't french me."

Hmm.

For those who want a second opinion, try this.

You might want to hold off on kissing your dog until you're really serious.

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Musto

This redefines puppy love.

bitchtrollfromhell

I used to kiss my dog on the side of his head not his mouth. Even though he never bad breath, he was a clean teen!

Boxeresq

Dogs don't give you diseases by kissing them but they sure do make you laugh and smile and there is no politics in smooching pets...they just love you.

Vin

Man and dog! Wait till Santorum gets ahold of this!

corrective_unconscious

While I don't like to get licked on my lips by a dog, the point is moot. Your hands touch the dog, including saliva, then your hands invariably touch your face. In fact, this is how colds and other viruses really spread - you touching your own face after shaking hands with someone else or something.

Istanbull

Much as I love my dog, I don't want to get salmonella from him.

Jonster

I love dogs. And I miss my dearly-departed cat Columbus. But some people carry their pet love to an extreme. I dated a guy who took it to a level beyond which I could climb. It was an inter-species love affair. They recently did a survey on which profession has the highest rate of crazy people. My friend, who runs a dog rescue service in SF, said "Law." (I work at a law firm.) It turns out it's Animal Workers. He didn't even miss a best. "They're right!" he said.