Hobbit: Pedro, My Puerto Rican Cousin

My mommy said I have a cousin who just moved to the states from Puerto Rico. His name is Pedro, he is part-beagle and has one-eye, just like me. He was flown here for the chance to find a nice home. His dream was finally becoming a reality, except he didn't know that, at least not yet. It had been a really long day of flying for poor Pedro. He'd been stuck in that travel kennel for way too long. I can't imagine being cooped up like that riding in the belly of a loud metal beast with a bunch of suitcases and boxes and no one around to comfort me. I know he had to fly in a plane to get here, but I think he'd just had too much stress and confusion for one day and that's why he broke free and ran like the wind. Thing is, it's quite blustery in Boston this time of year. Nope, no sunny Caribbean sunshine to warm his cold nose. I bet he second-guessed his split-second decision a third, fourth and even fifth time. Well, thankfully there were a lot of really nice people who work at the airport and they did everything they could to find Pedro. The little sato (that's Puerto Rican slang forstreet dog; I learned that from my mommy) was no where to be found and spent a bitter cold night who knows where. Thankfully, it ended well. Now he will have his chance to find a forever home. Good for him. I know from experience that it's worth the wait.

Here's Pedro's story: Rescuing A Rescue

Love,

Hobbit

Hobbit: My Big Day!

Well, yesterday was my BIG day! The photographer, Mr. Cunningham, came to our house to take MY picture for Guideposts magazine! My Poncho wanted to dress me up in little tan and white striped seersucker pants and brown saddle oxfords, (that would have gone nicely with my coloring, I think), but Mommy said Guideposts probably didn't want us to get too fancy. The photographer was very nice and I won him over quite quickly. I felt very comfortable around him. Maybe too comfortable because I kept falling asleep. For the first portion of the session I was lying on my back in my Poncho's arms, (my usual position), and when I do that I instantly doze off. I was getting tired of them waking me up, but Mr. Cunningham said it was important to keep my one eye open to show that I have just the one eye. 

Things got more interesting when Mommy got out my little red Kong toy. That perked me up right away! Mr. Cunningham liked that and he took lots and lots of pictures. After more pictures of me with Mommy and then all three of us, it was time to photograph the whole family. 

Mommy, Poncho and Mr. Cunningham were all a bit concerned that it would be the most trying part of the day. They were right. To make things as easy as possible they decided to have us all sit on the couch. Huck and Abby couldn't sit still and were climbing all over us. I don't think Gus ever looked at the camera. He seemed to be doing his best to not participate. And I could tell Buster was starting to get aggravated with Mr. C repeatedly snapping his fingers over his head trying to get his attention, saying, "Buster! Buster! Buster!" Boy, you should've seen the look on Buster's face. Mommy and Poncho knew he was getting perturbed, but they didn't tell Mr. Cunningham that. Didn't want to make him nervous by pointing out that the 90 lb. dog was about to have a melt down. Even with all that going against him, I think Mr. C was able to get a couple of good pictures. He was patient with us and he is a talented photographer.

We ended the photo shoot with a walk outside. That didn't go as well as hoped. I think it was just time to call it a day. A three-hour photo shoot can make a dog "dog tired!"

It was all in all very exciting and our whole family is thrilled about Mommy's article being published in June. 

Good night, Diary!

Love, 

Hobbit

Abby: I'm a good girl!

Mommy and Daddy were worried for no reason! I was a good little girl while Mommy was out of town. Daddy was quite pleased with me! Huck is another story. Looks like they should have been focusing their worries on him instead. Daddy caught Huck chewing on the corner of the new area rug. He explained to Huck that such behavior will not be tolerated. Huck was a good boy and stayed away from that rug ... only until the next morning. Apparently he forgot what Daddy told him just several hours earlier. I think his attention span needs some work. Anyway, Daddy talked to him again and when Mommy got home from her trip she sprayed Bitter Yuck on the corners of the rug. So far, so good. There is an obvious takeaway from this story: Abby is a good girl! Huck still needs work.

Oh, and something exciting is going to happen tomorrow! You see, my mommy wrote an article for Guideposts magazine and it will be published in the June issue. It's a story about Hobbit. Anyway, Guideposts is sending a photographer to our house in the morning to take pictures for the article! Of course, most of the pictures will be of Hobbit, but the rest of us get to be in some of the pictures, too! So, Mommy and Daddy have been busy straightening up the house and bathing Hobbit and trimming his nails. Mommy also and gave me a trim around the eyes and mouth, washed my face and brushed my fur. I think I look kind of pretty! Tomorrow morning the big guys will get their turn. My mommy and daddy are kind of dreading the group picture, though. We all know how the Christmas card photo shoot went. Let's hope things will go smoother with a professional photographer in charge. 

Well, I better get my beauty sleep.

Love, 

Abby xoxo

Abby: Uh oh.

My mommy is going out of town tomorrow night and I was supposed to go to Aunt Mary's. I love going to Aunt Mary's. She has five dogs of her own and I just love playing with them. I'm sure they feel the same way. Well, maybe not Sassy. Anyway, I was really looking forward to visiting with them and then I heard Daddy tell Mommy that he would like for me to stay home while Mommy is gone. Mommy said she was trying to help Daddy by sending me to Aunt Mary's, but Daddy said he thinks we should have Daddy-Daughter time. I'm not sure what to think of this. Daddy said that he would have a little talk with me. I think he is concerned with my management skills, which I believe are quite effective and necessary. For example, what would Mommy and Daddy do if I weren't around to manage Buster and Huck when they decide to get rowdy? My bark and perseverance come in handy in a household of five dogs. I mean, my mommy and daddy can't do it alone! Hopefully, I will be able to remind Daddy of my valuable role in our home. If that doesn't work, I'll have to pull out the "daddy's-little-girl" charm. Wish me lucky, Diary.

Gus: Happy New Year!

My mom got real busy during Christmas, so she kept forgetting to remind us to write in our blog. Sometimes we need a little prodding. Besides, there are five of us and we each figured the other one would write. Nope, turns out Huck and Buster were spending their free time chewing on the wooden planters and playing in the snow. Abby spent hours barking at Buster for no apparent reason and chasing the purple ball, while Hobbit and I got in a lot of holiday naps. Well, it's a new year, time for a fresh start, so we're making a resolution to write in our diary more often.

I think the last time I wrote I was recovering from our Christmas card photo shoot. Phew, that went on a bit too long for me. I even got up and walked off the set a couple of times. I mean, 30 pictures is quite enough, don't you think? Well, out of the 30, Mom managed to find one to use for our Christmas card. Here are a few outtakes from the debacle, er, photo shoot.

Happy New Year! Here's to good health, yummy treats, and snuggle time with your loved ones.

Signed,
Gus

Huck: PINE!

Oh my gosh! What is this stuff? It's sticky and tickley and smells so good! I love to fling it in the air and then catch it. Then I like to do it again. And again. And again! My mom doesn't seem so thrilled though. She said it doesn't belong in my mouth. In my defense I found it hanging on the deck railing - at snout height - and thought she had left it there for me. Maybe she is not happy because she spent time hanging about 40 feet of that green stuff. She loves to decorate for Christmas and one of her favorite things is "draping the garland" (her words, not mine) on the deck with white lights. Um, I don't think that's gonna happen this year. Well, I'll let her worry about it because on top of this great find, it's snowing again! Woo hoo! 

Gotta go. I'm pining to get back outside. *Bada bing*

Signed,

Huck

Notice the missing strand of garland from the deck railing. Mom's right, it really was kinda pretty.

Huck: SNOW!!!

I woke up this morning and there was white stuff falling from the sky! I ran outside and jumped for joy! SNOW! I've heard my mom talk about it and I couldn't wait to see it for myself. I like how it tickles my nose and crunches under my paws. When I run across the deck I slip and slide. Oh, what fun! My brothers and sister even joined me. They wouldn't play with me outside last night because it was raining so hard, but they were out there with me today. Gus was like a puppy again! Abby was chasing the big blue ball through the yard and Buster kept poking at me to play with him. (Hobbit kinda just stood there, but he did bark at us a couple of times.) I wish it would snow everyday!

Signed,
Huck

"I would like to go back indoors now. Thank you."