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The form at the animal shelter asked Bob Morris a simple question: “Why do you want to get a dog?”

Although the answer could have been simple, Mr. Morris was unsure. Was his newfound desire for a dog indicative of something missing in his marriage? After years of sneering at doting dog owners, why did he suddenly want to become one?

On this week’s Modern Love podcast, Zachary Quinto reads Mr. Morris’s essay, “An Affection Multiplier, With Four Feet and a Wet Nose.” Mr. Quinto stars in the new TV show “NOS4A2.” He has previously appeared in “Star Trek” and “American Horror Story.”