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An older Black woman in a green jacket walks a white Maltese on a blue leash through a backyard pumpkin patch at dusk. 22 / 26

Some of These Pumpkins Are Bigger Than Pearl. She Inspected Every One.

AI imagemaltesepumpkin patchautumn

Fat orange pumpkins lie scattered among the wilting vines, and the last light of the day glows warm behind the trees. Grandma Odessa walks slowly through the patch in a quilted olive jacket and jeans, a crossbody bag over her shoulder and a small cross necklace at her collar, smiling down as she holds a blue leash. Pearl trots along at her feet, a little white puff against all that orange, with her matching blue harness and a cheerful, open-mouthed expression. Pots of golden mums sit by the house, and a few dry leaves crunch along the path.

Autumn is a lovely season for walks, but it brings some seasonal hazards for dogs. Decorative gourds and pumpkins are not toxic, though moldy or rotting ones can cause stomach upset if nibbled. Fallen leaves can hide sharp sticks, and wild mushrooms that pop up in damp fall weather can be dangerous, so it is best to keep dogs from eating anything they find on the ground. Halloween candy, especially chocolate and sugar-free treats with xylitol, should be stored well out of reach. A harness, like the one Pearl wears, is a good choice for small dogs because it avoids pressure on the neck.

Pearl looks like she is having the best time exploring, stopping to sniff vines and admire pumpkins nearly as big as she is.

Maybe one of these pumpkins will end up on the porch steps, and maybe one small white dog will end up posing right next to it.

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