Cheerio is a dog, specifically a rat-terrier mix, but she could easily be the ambassador of good cheer.

Spreading good cheer is what she does, from morning ‘til night, seven days a week. She never takes a day or even a minute off.

In need of cheering up? Just a few minutes with Cheerio and your spirits are lifted, guaranteed.

And what does she ask in return? Oh, a friendly word or just a smile will do. And if you can’t manage a smile, she’ll still cheer you up.

Cheerio could do a lot of good in the world if she had a map and a driver’s license. But if she were out on her own, she might easily be snatched up by the folks at Ringling Brothers. She’s just as comfortable and agile on two legs as she is on four. I can see her now under the big top, prancing around with her clown sidekick, and kids and grown-ups alike exclaiming from the stands, “Wow, I wish we had a dog like that!”

Cheerio has sophisticated taste buds, sophisticated if you’re Southern, that is. She likes fried okra and blueberries; not together, but she probably wouldn’t turn down that combo either.

When there is no one around for Cheerio to work her magic on, she is usually looking upward. Sometimes something specific captures her attention, like a squirrel or a cat in a tree, but even when there’s nothing in particular to direct her gaze upward, she is looking up.

Don’t know what she’s looking for, but it’s up in the sky somewhere. Maybe that’s where she gets her inspiration for all that good cheer she’s spreading.

We could all use a little Cheerio, the ambassador of good cheer, in our lives.

Ann Malone is a pet photographer and can't remember a time she did not have pets in her life. Today she has three dogs, three cats and one parrot. She can be reached at annmh@live.com.