It's hug-your-hound day

Friday, Sept. 6th is Hug Your Hound day.  Give your hound a hug!  We're considering all dogs "hounds" in this scenario.   In honor of HYH day, we're giving away Scooby Snacks to all students who check out books on this day.

Look at that BMC (Black Mouth Cur, if you're not in the know) to the right there.  My husband and I rescued him from Austin Pets Alive! this summer.  He's a handful.  Of joy, that is.

Yeowzah.  I better include Charlotte in this or her feelings will be hurt.  I suspect she gets online during the day when I'm not at home.  I think she orders steak and other treats on the sly.  At any rate, here is my number one love, Charlotte Josephine Glaser Falli:

One story that  illustrates the complete acceptance that dogs have for us  is that of President Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.  According to my memory, Clinton remarked that during those dark (for him) days, Buddy was the only one who would have anything to do with him.  

Of course he was.

Some great dog books:

You had me at woof

Julie Klam, former David Letterman Show writer, recounts her adventures in fostering dogs.  Funny, touching and inspiring.

Marley and me

You saw the movie, right?  Annoying puppy Marley grows up to be the BEST DOG. Ever.

With love from Bagdad

American soldier stationed in Iraq takes in a stray puppy and fights the red tape-laden American government to bring him "home" to America.

And there are many more where those came from!

Here is Mrs. Bragham's dog, Tarzan.  He's a sweetie-pie!  His tricks include: eating socks, catching frisbees and - get this - opening his family's gate with his paws.  Yep.  He's talented.

And Mrs. Bligh plans to bring Jasmine, or Jazzy J as we say, up here tomorrow to give out free hugs and licks.

So come on down, check out a book, meet Jazzy J, get a Scooby Snack and then go home and HUG YOUR HOUND.

Oh wait, I think I'll include a vid of Archie playing in puppy class.  He's the little brown bruiser beating up on everyone.  After that day, they moved us to a class with bigger dogs so they could "correct" him.  Except the dogs didn't "correct" him.  And Archie is only getting bigger and bruisyer.  He's a nut.

Update, Jazzy J's visit to the libera

You'll never see a cat in war

This picture makes me practically weep.  When I think of how doggedly loyal (hence the saying), intelligent and fierce dogs are, I can hardly stand it.  I know that my little CharChar would would follow me to the ends of the earth.  What would I do without her???

In honor of our four-legged companions who serve our country, I'm going to suggest a couple of books.  If you like dogs -these are must reads!

Letters from Wolfie by Sherlock- an oldie but goodie.  I'm a sucker for a good dog book, but I still say you can't help but like this one.  Wolfie's pre-teen master can't serve in Vietnam, but his dog can!  Once Wolfie is away at war, his soldier companion writes letters that Wolfie "dictates" and sends them back home.  Learning of the treatment of these brave dogs during the Vietnam conflict was heart-breaking (have your Kleenex at hand).  However, I was pleased to hear that conditions finally improved under Clinton.

From Baghdad, with love: A marine, the war and a dog named Lava by Kopelman.  This non-fiction book tells the story of Kopelman and his fellow soldiers breaking the no-pets-allowed rule and adopting a sweet angel named Lava.  True dog-man love in the ruins of war.  Beautiful.

Finally, check out this article in the Huffington Post that tells of the heroic canine strapped to a solder's chest as he lowered himself down from a helicopter during the Osama Bin Laden raid.  Big sigh. 

I'm going to give Char extra love tonight when I go home. (She shares her mother's taste in bedtime reading.)