Dogs, Uvulae and Geography?

We went on a mini-vacation this past weekend. When we got home we discovered that one of our dogs had mysteriously received a 4- by 5-inch gash on his side. We rushed Poncho to the vet. Sam was fascinated by his wound and began investigating it. Poncho yawned, and, in full scientist mode, Sam peered down his throat. "Hey, Mom. I don't think Poncho has a uvula!" [Note: the uvula is the little thing that hangs down at the back of your throat.] We began trying to see Poncho's uvula each time he opened his mouth. We couldn't get a really clear look. Later we did a little research online. We learned that dogs do not have uvulae--except for one breed of wild dog known as Singers. This type of dog has a uvula-like piece of flesh at the back of its soft palate. (See the link below for more information.)

Singers are native to Papua New Guinea. Sam asked what Papua New Guinea was. I replied that it was a country. Then he wanted to know where it was. We located it on a world map. Over the next several minutes he pointed to countries, and I provided their names.

Poncho is recovering nicely after a $700 surgery.

For more information about Singers go to www.canineworld.com/ngsdcs/bookexcerpts.pdf.