It’s a Go

Ash

Ash

Me and mom just got off the phone with the rescue lady in California. Mom told me I could listen but I couldn’t say nothing.
That’s just as well. I was so excited I could hardly think straight.

Mom explained that our pack talked it over and we want to give those two mutts a chance to enjoy life at Asherpark.

Mom talked about what an honor it had been to care for Nellie and that our hearts are big enough to take in two Aussies that were treated terrible mean by some bad guy.

Mom said me and Jack would be just fine with any new dogs, but we had to make sure that Tess didn’t get a mad on with the newcomers. Tess told me privately that she would mind her manners, but she told me that once before a big fight.

Marble and Shiloh are coming up on a transport truck with some other rescue dogs. The lady driving the truck is gonna bring Marble and Shiloh to Asherpark. She’ll check us out and see if she thinks Marble and Shiloh will fit in and be happy here.

Me and Jack will say howdy to the new mutts and then do some precision pissing in the front yard. Tess will strut and act all important and make sure the new dogs understand she is the queen. If Marble and Shiloh are smart, they’ll be real pleasant to Tess and not give her any lip. Once Tess decides they’re not gonna make a power grab, she’ll be happy and run off to see what me and Jack are doing.

If it looks like we can all get along, Marble and Shiloh will stay with us on a trial basis. If in a couple of weeks things aren’t working out too well, Marble and Shiloh will catch the next transport back to California.

I hope, hope, hope they like it here. Me and mom and dad really really want them to stay at Asherpark and have a good life. So all of you out there that think Marble and Shiloh should live at Asherpark, send a good thought.

Maybe if we all concentrate on Marble and Shiloh being happy, things will work out good and we’ll have a nice big pack with some new friends. Ha ha, that makes me laugh out loud. Oops, forgot to tell you Marble and Shiloh will probably come up the middle of April. Yippee!!

Ash

Ash

 

 

Big Time Decision

Ash

Ash

Since Nellie left us life has settled into an easy routine. We get mom up every morning at 4am sharp. If she doesn’t roll out of bed Tess and Jack mix it up and then Jack pisses in the corner.

Mom can’t ever go back to sleep after we wake her up, so our day gets off to a nice early start.

Me and Tess get our breakfast in the garage. We don’t stand around in the kitchen the way we used to because a while back we got into a noisy smack down rumble.

Jack now eats in the kitchen by himself. Mom keeps him company and usually surfs the web while he’s eating. One day mom was looking at the PetFinder site. Guess what dog she always looks for? You got it! Aussies.

Mom was thinking she’d take a break from bringing more sorry rescue dogs into our pack, but then she found Marble, the sorriest Aussie mutt you ever saw. Here’s her picture.

Marble

See those sad eyes? That’s a mutt that’s had a tough life. Marble has a sidekick named Shiloh, and they’re a package deal. If you watch this video, you’ll understand why they can’t be separated. Shiloh needs a special home too.

Mom and dad talked it over. They both said Asherpark is the perfect place for worn out dogs. So mom called the rescue people in California and learned more about Marble and Shiloh. They’re gonna send us some medical records for Shiloh.

In a day or two we’re gonna have a family meeting and talk it over. Then we’ll make the big decision. Me and Jack are fine with it. Tess has to promise she’ll mind her manners and not get uppity with the new mutts. It would mean a lot to offer Marble and Shiloh a chance to be happy forever. I hope it works out. If you keep reading our barks, you’ll be the first to know.

My Turn

Jack

I’ve been compared to Humphrey Bogart because of my dark and brooding looks. Someone once said I looked like an old fedora. No matter how I feel inside my face seems locked in a deep sorrowful gaze.

People worry about me because I always look so sad. It’s true that I used to be sad a lot before I came to Asherpark.

In my old life I had a silly name – Cyrus. Imagine being named after the king of Persia and living in squalor.

When I was Cyrus I lived in chaos. My person used drugs and had runaway kids living with her. They had drug parties and smoked a lot. The place stunk real bad.

Once somebody did something mean to me. The vet says the bone under my right eye was broken. I think somebody kicked me.

When the authorities seized me I was put in the slammer for five months while all the legal stuff got sorted out. It was cold and drafty. I could smell the fear. Day after day I lay on the concrete floor wondering if my royal name would buy me a better place to live.

When I finally got sprung from the joint, I was a big sorry mess – dirty fur, goopy eyes, and a hundred yard stare from all the misery in my life.

The first thing I did on the way to my new home was puke in the back of the car. It’s a wonder I wasn’t taken right back to the shelter. Looking back I feel ashamed about my behavior. Things didn’t get off to a very good start.

As soon as I got to my new home I attacked the young boy dog, Asher. That’s what ex-cons do. You gotta act macho so nobody messes with you. Then I pissed in every corner and on every piece of furniture.

The second time I got hissy with Ash, mom put me down hard. She wagged her finger in my face and told me to knock the crap off. Then she put me on a leash and I had to follow here everywhere for a week.

When I got off detention I realized I didn’t have to be mean to Ash. Nobody at Asherpark was gonna hurt me. Once I quit attacking Ash, he became my best friend. Mom calls him my babysitter because I’m afraid to be left alone without Ash to keep me company.

The truth is I’m a big scaredy cat. I’m afraid to be the last one in the yard at night. I’m afraid to be left home alone. I’m afraid of walks in the park. I’m afraid to get my feet wet in deep puddles. The strange thing is people love me anyway.

At Asherpark I got my new name, Jack. It’s a wonderful name. It makes me seem like one of the guys, not some goofy dead king.

I go places and represent Old Dog Haven. Because I’m calm around strangers, anybody can come up to me and pet me.

Now that Nellie’s gone Ash told me that I had to step up my game and share the responsibilities. Ash said I’ve stayed in the background long enough. I’ve had three years to get over the bad stuff that happened to me. He’s right. I’m gonna man up and start helping Ash with the DailyBark. You watch me!