Abhorring patriarchy, and based on the church's adherence to the doctrine that animals have no soul, in early adulthood I chose to disengage with the Catholic faith. Then came the staggering confirmation that the new pope chose the name Pope Francis. I was flooded with emotion -- Saint Francis: the revered Patron Saint of animals.
Morrissey (as an artist and public figure) has always had the uncanny ability to charm and repel at the same time. His staunch animal rights activism, his hatred of the throne, his refusal to adhere to any of the tenets of accepted celebrity behaviour have often landed him in hot water. But what's wrong with a little hot water when today's music and music industry is so depressingly tepid?
While going through a bout of religious enthusiasm myself, I took on the practice and decided to let my dog have puppies. I think I learned more about mammal reproduction in one morning of midwifing eight puppies than I did studying zoology for four years at the University of Toronto. But living with the puppies was a nightmare.