"Oh, but she's not. She's very well-trained, never makes a mess where she shouldn't. The worst problem she could have is fleas, same as any dog or cat, and we check her daily."

He's petting her more actively now, and she's snuffling around at his hair, confused because it's in a ponytail today.

"It's best to wash hands before eating if you've been handling her, but it's best to wash hands before eating anyhow."