In the Middle ages, each of the Seven Deadly Sins had an animal designated as being symbolic of that particular poor choice. Different storytelling traditions designated a variety of creatures to each particular sin. The dog was a common symbol of envy, owing to its tendency to want whatever another dog might possess at the time. In our story, a dog steps out of the canine-envy world and is jealous of a butterfly for its apparent freedom compared to the dog's life within a fenced-in backyard. (Image from the book, "The Seven Very Bad Choices; A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins")
