Humans have lived alongside dogs for millennia, but there's more to them than just tail wags, a love for car rides and chasing tennis balls. It is not surprising that there are so many weird facts and fascinating tales: - A recent poll showed that 33 percent of dog owners talk to their dogs on the phone or leave messages for their pets on answering machines - Before the law requiring pet owners in New York City to scoop up after their dogs, about 40 million pounds of doggie doodoo were left on the streets each year - Laika, a stray dog from Russia, was the first living creature to enter orbit on the Soviet's Sputnik 2 - Dogs really can sense when a person is about to die - Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Pompeii found the remains of a dog laying across a child, apparently trying to protect the youngster from the volcano's deadly eruption - In Oklahoma, you'd better restrain yourself from making faces at a dog-you could be fined, arrested or even jailed - The only dog that does not have a pink tongue is the chow; that breed's tongue is jet black - The fastest dog, the greyhound, can reach speeds of up to 44 miles (70 kilometers) per hour And much more...