While dogs are perceptive, whether they are sentient is still a subject of philosophical debate. 

On 01-Aug-2014, at 11:47, Dave Mcneely wrote:

> A dog is not an object.  A dog is a sentient being.  mcneely
> 
> ---- Roy Nicholl <RNicholl@NBNet.nb.ca> wrote:
>> Must be tough being a dog at the McNeely house ;-)
>> 
>> On 01-Aug-2014, at 11:11, Dave Mcneely wrote:
>> 
>>> I never pet objects, not my shoes, not my vehicle, not my canoe, not a piece of furniture. I reserve petting for sentient beings.  mcneely
>>> 
>>> ---- "dofunk@yahoo.com" <dofunk@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
>>>> After any drive with our van of more than say 2.5 hrs I usually give" her" a pat on the dash and say thanks and good job....oddly I also touch the tred on the front wheel from time to time as if to pet a paw!
>>> We do,love our syncro!
>>> Brady.....
>>> 
>>> Sent from... Wow just about anywhere!
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ------ Original message------
>>> From: Roland
>>> Date: Thu, Jul 31, 2014 8:06 PM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM;
>>> Subject: Do you ever pat your Vanagon on the head and say thanks?
>>> 
>>> Last week we went to Big Bear for a few days from San Diego.  It isn't all
>>>> that far, typically only 2.5-3 hours, but with stops and traffic it was
>>>> about 5 hours.   This time we had our grandson with us, and going through
>>>> the Inland Empire (Riverside, San Bernardino, etc.) was at over 100 degrees
>>>> in evening rush hour.  The climb to Big Bear is to straight up to 6,000 ft,
>>>> with some steep grades.   I was able to keep at about 50-55 mph in 3rd;
>>>> many people waved or flashed "thank you" when I used the pull-outs to let
>>>> them by.
>>>> 
>>>> We hadn't been on a trip with the Vanagon for some time, and I only did a
>>>> few basic checks.   So I was a bit worried, always planning how I would
>>>> handle a breakdown.  High temps, no air conditioning, very heavy
>>>> stop-and-go traffic for dozens of miles.    But it was all smooth sailing,
>>>> not even an oil buzzer!
>>>> 
>>>> Back at home, I patted her on the dashboard and said thank you!   I thought
>>>> for a moment that she replied with a front suspension creak but ......
>>>> 
>>>> Roland
>>>> '89 Syncro
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> David McNeely
>> 
> 
> --
> David McNeely