Like the rest of the world, I went to see ‘The Avengers’’ and being the geek I am, I loved it.

But it left me wondering: why don’t superheroes ever have dogs? Given their dysfunctional personalities and troubled backstories, it seems all the Avengers could use some unconditional dog love

In real life, dogs perform heroics all the time: bomb-sniffing dogs, police dogs, therapy and service dogs.

In the comic-book world, dogs are represented in a pretty lame way: there’s Krypto of Superman fame; and Ace the Bat Hound and a really insipid group named Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers.

And if you think about it, who needs a dog more than a superhero? Superheroes usually have to keep quiet about their crime fighting exploits; a dog can keep a secret. Superheroes like the X-men are often misunderstood; a dog can give them a friendly lick on the nose to make things right. Supervillians often come after superheroes’ loved ones; dogs can take care of themselves.

Turns out I am not the only one who has pondered this: Check out this really great site: Law and the Multiverse, which ponders all sorts of legal implications for superheroes. For example, who owns Wolverine’s bones or who pays for the damage in midtown Manhattan wrought by the Avengers during their latest skirmish? The Law and Multiverse weighs in on the legal implications for superheroes as dog companions: leash laws and vaccinations. Does Krypto need a rabies shot? Would his coat break the needle?

As usual, the lawyers bring up a lot of good points but I still think every superhero needs a dog . Think how fast The Flash could walk the dog or pick up  poop. His powers could be used for the good of all humankind. Or dogkind