Sometimes I write with structure and purpose. Sometimes I use a stream-of-consciousness approach. This time I'm streaming. With the holiday season approaching, I'm just too excited to concentrate. But I will share my thoughts on Thanksgiving.

First of all, it's the very best holiday of the entire year because of the whole part where everybody obsesses about food. It's a day when I feel an even deeper connection with people. Suddenly, we're all the same single-minded creatures drooling over something delicious. Yes, turkey day rocks.

There's also the football aspect, but believe it or not, I'm not a fan of footballs. I prefer tennis balls. So I watch The National Dog Show instead.

I have recently learned, however, that the holiday is actually not just about worshipping at the altar of mashed potatoes and TV. Apparently, it's about being grateful for the harvest. I guess it involves Pilgrims and Native Americans, but I don't really understand all of that. I do understand giving thanks for food. That, I get.

At our stores, customers fill out bone-shaped notes and write what their pets are thankful for. Lots of people participate and we get all kinds of responses. Here are a few recent ones:

• Maggie is thankful for belly scratches.
• Riley is thankful for a third chance at life.
• Cody is thankful for bones and squeaker toys.
• Ginger is grateful that the backyard is full of squirrels.
• Ella is thankful to be rescued from a shelter just in time for Thanksgiving.
• Safari is thankful for catnip and catnaps.
• Alex is thankful for his loving family.
• Murphy is thankful for incredible oncologists.

It's really interesting to read what people have to say. The ones about rescue are always my favorite. Animals who get adopted often seem to have a permanent look of gratitude in their eyes.

If I had to ask my people to write a sentence about what I'm thankful for, they would say that I'm grateful to be able to talk. I talk all of the time, sunrise to sundown. My people might not quite understand the "words", but I try to make them just the same. With me around, it's never quiet in the house and my people never have to have a boring one-on-one conversation. They say I'm something called an interrupting pest, but I have no clue what that means. I'm sure it's a compliment.

One of the few times I don't talk is when I'm eating. Which brings me full circle back to the topic of food and the upcoming holiday. We can enjoy lots of the same things people do – but do your research! Things like nutmeg, onions, garlic, some nuts, sage, turkey skin, cooked poultry bones and chocolate are toxic to us. We can eat a little plain broccoli, carrots, turkey without skin, sweet potatoes and pumpkin though. Just make sure everything is unseasoned.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family – two-legged and four! Albert, a Jack Russell Terrier, is Chairman of the Board of Wylie Wagg, a shop for dogs, cats, and their people, in Middleburg, Fairfax, Falls Church and Arlington.