The Black Poodle, and Other Tales

"The Black Poodle, and Other Tales" by F. Anstey is a compilation of short stories that probably dates back to the late 1800s, where the initial narrative introduces Algernon Weatherhead, a timid government employee, caught in funny, awkward situations because of a black poodle named Bingo, his neighbors, the Currie family, and a chain of unlucky happenings that create a tough moral problem. When Algernon tries to befriend both the dog and the Curries, he accidentally kills Bingo while trying to quiet down a noisy cat. Overwhelmed by guilt, he decides to swap Bingo with a look-alike, resulting in humorous turns and a thoughtful examination of themes like love, devotion, and what people might do to fit in. The work mixes humor with social critiques about obsession and what people think of you.