I BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT I HAVE MAGICAL POWERS. It's true. It's not something I like to brag about because if too many people find out, then I'll get all these requests for assistance and really, where would it even STOP?
There are probably lots of other moms who share my secret skill. And because I like you, I'm going to share with you this little secret. But you have to promise not to tell anyone else, mkay?
Shhhhhh… lean in here, just a little bit closer… that's it…
OK. Now. You see this picture?
That's where my dog goes to eat and drink. The bowl on the left is his food bowl, empty because I took this photo just after he'd eaten. And the one on the right, is his water bowl. Now, if you look closely, you can see there's a small amount of water in there, and if you look really closely, you can infer that it's been there for a while. It's a little slimy, it has stuff floating in it. It's nasty. You wouldn't drink that, would you? Of course not. And neither would your dog. Because even if your dog likes to go outside and roll around in sh*t, he's not gonna drink that.
YUK.
But here's the thing. I am the only one in my whole household who can see that. That's the only explanation for it. There are four other humans in my household, ranging in age from 6 1/2 to 46 1/2, all of whom walk by that area in a corner of our kitchen multiple times per day. But you know what they must see?
I can only assume they can't even see the water bowl, because I have never known any of them to refill the dog's water bowl without prompting. And even if they are prompted and respond, they usually just fill a big plastic cup with water and dump it on top of the slimy water, which just dilutes the slime and doesn't improve its drinkability.
Sometimes it's just easier to do something yourself than to ask someone else to do it, and that's what I've decided with the dog's water dish. Because who doesn't love a fresh, cold bowl of water?
Yes, this has rankled for years, but now that it occurs to me that I'm the only one who can actually see the water dish, it doesn't bother me anymore. In fact, I feel rather fortunate to have been blessed with this extra-sensory perception, if you will. It's a gift; I understand that now. And I forgive my family for their puzzled looks when asked to fill the dog's water bowl. They simply can't see it.
Our little secret, k?
Soup Is Not A Finger Food 
It’s a Mummy thing. And my dogs’ water bowl is WHITE, so wouldn’t you think the whole slime thing would be even MORE obvious? But no. We should start a club?
Elderly parents do not see slime in a dog’s water bowl either. Mom would allow the contents turn to green gelatin without suffering the slightest pang of guilt. Ever gag while dumping out that last 1 mm of slime? Yeah, me too.
Do your magic powers reveal why dogs may not want to drink out of your bowl, but they’ll drink out of your toilet?
Because the toilet is cleaner? Oh, hold on, can that be right in a household with four small children??
Super powers carry great responsibility but they also reap big bene’s. I have to check my manual, which is at home, but I believe that for every time you rinse and refill the water bowl you are granted one extra meatball, cookie or cocktail, depending upon the time of day or menu at hand.
Use your powers for good, Meg, and bon apetit.