“Hey there, it’s Maya, the ‘Cutest Dog’ in Pawsburg! Had another manic Monday, sprinted for a seafood breakfast at Bow Wow Burgers, indulged in some retail therapy at Fetch! before a heroic rescue mission in Collie Canyon. Oh, and squeezed in being a vet at our version of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. Now, if only I had actual thumbs for these tricky dog-saving ops!”

Listen to the story here.

So there I was, wakesy-wakesy in the wee hours of my cozy corner near the fireplace, when I sniffed adventure through the jumbled smells of Pawsburg. Before you could even abbreviate a yawn, my little paws had me sprinting toward the magnetic draw of Spotted Red Beagle Beach.

“Just another manic Monday, Maya?” Buddy’s voice echoed through the early morning mist. His golden tail wagged against the rules of gravity. Our lifetimes of capers were woven into every swing. The seagulls scattered over our heads, their chorus of displeasure composed a symphony of the sea.

“What’s on today’s list of manic misdoings?” I asked, my tail wagging in collegiate camaraderie. “I was thinking salmon, straight from the waves at Spotted Red Beagle Beach-” His ears sprang erect, almost like stereo antennas gathering information from Mars. But before we could chalk out our fishy strategy, our paws had hastened us to Bow Wow Burgers.

The irresistible aroma of sizzling salmon beckoned from the grill. K9 Kebabs could wait. “Two Bow-wow salmon burgers, light on the pickles, heavy on the play!” I ordered, my petite frame doing a jig at the counter.

“Paws off, Maya,” warned Buddy. “The last time we swiped burgers from Bow Wow, we were banned from Bone Appetit for a month.”

But the call of a salmon patty was far stronger than a mere reprimand. In one swift move, two salmon burgers disappeared into the annals of my memory, much to Buddy’s chagrin and the cook’s surprise.

A post-heist visit to Fetch! Toys and Treats seemed a therapeutic necessity, where I indulged in every conceivable squeaky rubber chicken. But the memory of my dear old inherited toy, worn yet resilient, twanged my heartstrings.

“We’ll drop by Canine Couture,” suggested Buddy, a smirk plastered across his face. I shuddered at the thought of itchy ruffles and flashy bows. Maybe, The Snooty Snout Boutique would provide some pacifying chew toys.

A sudden commotion alerted us to Upper Collie Canyon, where a frenzied weenie dog was caught in a whirl of chaos. Without sparing a thought, we found our paws leading to the frantic scene. It was our version of ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ just without the interns and the cognitive med-speak.

After a quick ‘Pawsburg-style’ rescue operation, the weenie dog, who will remain unnamed due to confidentiality reasons, rested well, muttering about squeaky rubber chickens. As I lolled my tongue out, I chuckled, “You could say that today has been administering the E.R of this place,” following it quickly with, “If anyone asks, we refer them to House… ‘Dr. House,’ I mean.”

As for now, my comfy spot near the fireplace was calling, but not before a stint of ‘appearance preserving’ in the way of baths and grooming – Oh, the atrocities I endure!

Another day was done in the life and equal parts drama, comedy and chaos of Pawsburg, the land that slipped into dreaming when the humans woke up. As I said, just another manic Monday at Pawsburg’s veterinary hospital. I just wish I had thumbs for these tricky scalpel operations.

And my name is Maya, by the way. The ‘Cutest Dog’ in all of Pawsburg, that’s me— according to the awards gathering dust on the shelf. Grandmother would have been proud.

The End.