Neuticles

by Chelsea Williams

"Neuticles" definitely caught me off guard initially. The subject matter was not something I was expecting, nor familiar with at all. Once the reporter mentioned that if you don't have a dog, this piece won't interest you, I was slightly taken aback because I do not have a dog, and have never had one. However, in abruptly jumping in to the topic of neuticles, the reporter easily captivated the audience. The constant dog barking in the background served as a reassurance that these substitute testicles for dogs would, indeed, work effectively. It also offered entertaining ambient sound, keeping the listeners tuned in completely. While I enjoyed hearing about neuticles from the perspective of a man who had devoted his life to the cause, I really appreciated hearing the other side of things. The vet offered a much more rational explanation that was far easier for me to relate to. I found "Neuticles" to be an easy, straightforward story that avoided complexities, and in doing so uncovered an interesting and relevant story. Even as a non-dog owner, I felt included. Also, the one phrase I thoroughly enjoyed was when the reporter was referring to the cost, and cleverly used "900 bones" instead of 900 dollars. It was witty and won me over on the spot.