Cycling home from school dropoff this week I saw, taped to a bikeway sign, one of those notices asking for help finding a lost dog. The dog’s name was Malta, it said, and there was a picture of a regal but not unkindly poodle-like face with a blond bouffant frizz on top. I had the strangest feeling I was going to find Malta so I tore off one of the phone number tabs and set off along the creekside trail.