I used to have four dogs. One ran away one day and never came back, so now I have one fewer. I bought each dog a leash before it left, so I have an extra leash. I feel like something is off. It's as if I'm one dog short. I still have three dogs left, but I'm thinking of getting another. Then I wouldn't have a spare leash.

The question is simple but tricky: Am I missing a dog, or do I have one leash too many? Maybe the answer is that I just have a leash to spare. With three dogs and three leashes I'd have just enough. Three dogs is still too many. I may not have enough leftovers to feed them. Maybe I'll give two dogs away and return all four leashes. I'll be leashless, but I don't like walking my dogs on a leash anyway.

Next time, I'll get a cat. Cats don't need leashes. Or I'd better not — the dog might feel left out, or worse, a lack of affection.