Richard M. Cohen and his wife, TV journalist Meredith Vieira, have shared their family with a succession of dogs and cats; the frequently repeated question "Why do we have these animals?" is met with the response, "To enrich our lives." In I Want to Kill the Dog, Cohen claims that he may mouth those words, but his true feelings lie 180 degrees from the family line.
Meredith loves animals; Richard loves Meredith, but he bemoans the over-the-top pet culture that has "seized America by the throat"--which is what he fears Jasper, the most egregiously irritating member of the parade of critters that have taken the Cohen-Vieira family hostage, may do to him. When Richard approaches Meredith, Jasper goes for him: the canine seems to think she's his trophy wife. Cohen fantasizes his day in court: "Your Honor, allow me to present my opening argument in Richard M. Cohen vs. Jasper, the Hideous, Shrieking Pig Dog."
A dog adopted into this family is a lucky mutt, and their antics are indeed book-worthy, from Sam the overly protective to Shea the huge escape artist and Willie the chewer. But Jasper provides the best material, and Cohen's droll sense of humor (and love for Meredith) is to our benefit--he invites us to laugh at his expense, even as Jasper howls, lunges, snarls at anyone approaching Meredith, and "enriches their life" on the carpet. --Cheryl Krocker McKeon, bookseller