“Hey Dad, had a ‘ruff’ Monday! Woke to canned peas (gross), Spencerville was a ghost town, and found Thimble terrified by a giant rogue squirrel. Turned into freaking doggy Indiana Jones, ousting the squirrel, rescuing pets, and restoring order. Our town? Drama central. But heck, who doesn’t dig a thrill? Pawsitively adventurous day, over. – Baron aka Houndini”

Listen to the story here

Every so often in Spencerville, there’s a day where things just feel off. The air has a tang of change, you know what I mean? And I felt it today as I woke up in my impressive crib at East Pug Palace. I’m Baron, by the way. Possibly the only Borzoi with an air of mystery that could rival any painfully handsome, middle-aged movie star.

“My silver coat outshines the moon, baby,” I mumble looking at my reflection in the glossy sheen of my food bowl. Today’s breakfast is Furrific Fried Chicken – decadent in taste, yet light enough to keep my figure intact. No gains for this guy. But wait, what is this? Canned peas? Seriously? It’s early Monday morning, and I am not prepared to deal with such atrocities.

I start my day usually by strolling to the Spencerville River, my green ball in tow. But today, the vibe is different, and the deserted lanes have an eerie silence. Looks like a dreaded day in paradise, but hey! Who could stand to miss a game with the ball? It is, after all, my favorite form of cardio.

Cute little Thimble, the rabbit, isn’t out here today, though. His absence making the garden seem so empty, even the old cedar tree seems to droop in loneliness. Now the question is, where is he?

As I saunter around town, it’s as quiet as the Maltese Meadow on a sultry afternoon. No line at Fetch-N-Bites. Empty lane leading to The Wagging Tail Bookstore. Dare I say it, it feels…post-apocalyptic? Holy Schnauzer, it is! Now who says only human folks get to have all the catastrophic fun?

Think Baron, think! I pause for a moment, trying to create a plan, when a muffled whimper breaks my thought. Turning around, I find my rabbit friend, Thimble, hiding under a bush, shaking like a leaf. I rush to him, “Hey Thimbs, what’s the score?” Trembling, he points toward an ominous, hollow-looking Tan Dalmatian Desert.

Apprehensive yet determined, I lead the way. Thimble on my tail, we slowly approach the desert, promising each other only to look and not engage – no need for any unnecessary heroics. Observing further, we find our friends safely tucked away in a deep burrow, hiding from a giant rogue squirrel who has taken over our Spencerville.

Did I imagine ending my day as a hero in a world taken over by an oversized squirrel? Not really! But hey, who could resist the chance to be the Borzoi who saved Spencerville? Long story short, let’s just say that Mr. Squirrel is no longer in Spencerville, and my friends are back on the streets, safer and braver than ever.

And like that, with a twist and a twirl, it all returned to the normally unusual day of Spencerville life. But it wasn’t your typical day either. Here’s a secret, amid all the chaos, I realized our little town has a taste for drama. And I must say, I don’t hate it. Here’s to more exciting days in our own little paradise, bring it on, Spencerville!

The End.