James Herriot, the beloved English veterinarian, recounts in one of his books the humorous story of Tricki Woo. An otherwise sensible person, his owner, Mrs. Pumphrey, imagined that Tricki descended from an ancient Chinese dynasty, and she coddled her dog like royalty. No delicacy was denied him—scones, fudges, liver pudding—he had it all, and his figure showed it. When Tricki’s health declined, Mr. Herriot remonstrated that Mrs. Pumphrey had to take things in hand and withhold treats. And she claimed to do so, in minute amounts for a short time, perhaps two scones instead of three; but she simply couldn’t bear any deprivation of Tricki’s appetite (she truly “loved” him).