Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative.

-- Mordecai Siegal

Sylvia Cooper, The Chronicle's astute political observer, admits to playing music for the dogs at her house.

I read mine stories.

The latest was in last week's Atlanta Journal Constitution (front page) and involved a little, white West Highland terrier just like mine.

The dog's name is Charley, and his owner Frances Gippert, of suburban Loganville, recalled a recent day when the little dog whined to go out. It was an unusual whine, too, she said, almost like a crying child.

She thought it was nature calling, but it was something else.

Instead of heading to a nearby lot where he often found relief, Charley jerked his leash in the opposite direction pulling her to a house three doors down.

There they found a semi-conscious Ray Monie, 61, who had fallen 25 feet from the roof of his rental property house into the shrubbery below.

Medical help was summoned. Mr. Monie recovered in the hospital and now he and Ms. Gippert and, of course, Charley are all fast friends.

I have shared this story with my own West Highland terrier more than once, and always end it with: "And if I fall off the roof, go get help!"

He always wags his tail, so I guess he's got the message.

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LATE MAIL: Sarah and Marvin Jones , of Augusta, send a postcard from Utah and write: "We finally made it, celebrating our 54th anniversary and visiting four national parks that are very lovely."

Helen Welch sends a postcard from Myrtle Beach. She says her knee is doing great after her second replacement -- both knees are done now. Anthony and Susan Lamb , of Gibson, Ga., are on vacation in New England.

John Maffett and Donna Hadden , of Avera, Ga., are roughing it in Glacier National Park. "Even the easy hikes are strenuous," they write. "but the views are awesome and we have met mountain goats, sheep, bears (black and grizzly) moose and elk on the trails."

Finally, five Augusta couples are enjoying a cruise out of Seattle. "Enjoying the majestic scenery" are: Danny and Crystal Craig , Jerry and Jacquie Allison , Tom and Carol Fuller , Ken and Jean Etheride and Check and Susan Lanier .

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TODAY'S JOKE: Here's one from Billy Cooper , of North Augusta.

A man took his 5-year-old grandson to the optometrist to pick up his new glasses. The glasses were prescribed "to help him read and be able to see the computer better."

When we got back home, he got on the computer to play a game. In a few minutes he called to his granddad and said there was something wrong with his glasses.

The older man, looked concerned, and asked him what was the problem.

"Well," said the 5-year-old. "I still can't read."