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An elderly man in glasses holds a vanilla ice cream cone as a fawn Pug in a brown collar licks it in a cozy living room. 9 / 38

Grandpa Ken Said Just One Lick. Mochi Heard Something Different.

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Grandpa Ken holds the waffle cone low and steady, smiling the soft smile of someone who knows he is being had. Mochi has stretched up from the floor, pink tongue just touching a scoop of vanilla, eyes wide with disbelief at this stroke of luck. The fawn Pug's brown leather collar rests on its wrinkled neck. Around them, the living room is warm and lived in: a couch with a knitted throw, framed family photos on a shelf, baskets of yarn, a glass of water and a pair of glasses resting on the coffee table near the sunny window.

A tiny taste of plain vanilla is not usually an emergency, but ice cream is not a great treat for dogs. Many adult dogs do not digest lactose well, which can lead to an upset stomach, and the sugar adds empty calories that Pugs, who gain weight easily, do not need. Some flavors are truly risky: chocolate is toxic to dogs, and certain sugar-free products contain xylitol, which is dangerous. Grapes, raisins and macadamia nuts can show up in mix-ins too. Frozen treats made for dogs, or a spoonful of plain frozen pumpkin, are safer ways to share a cool moment. When in doubt, ask your vet.

Still, it is easy to see why Grandpa Ken gave in. That expression is pure joy, and the cone will be back in his own hands in a second. Some summer memories are measured in licks.

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