Dear Clayton

Dear Clayton,

Hello!

It was good to hear from you.

I'm sorry that you are still feeling weak and tired, and of all things have gotten another blood clot. I even hear that your Mistress is giving you shots now. I sure hope she gives you a tummy rub after each shot.

I am glad to hear that you gained a couple of pounds. So have I.

My Mistress didn't bring home any doggy bags from the Home-Coming Dinner, but I did help her eat the plate of food the Master brought home to her from the Sunday night bi-monthly Birthday celebration the next week. There is not much food that gets by me. As soon as there is any action in the kitchen I am right there to see what is going on. You need to park your chair in the kitchen to make sure that you are not missing any food. The more I eat the more I want.

I also love to chew on rawhide bones. Maybe if you tried chewing on a rawhide bone it would give you more of an appetite.

Don't tell my Mistress, but sometimes I ignore her when she calls for me when I am outside. Especially, if I am busy digging a brand new hole in the dirt or think I have cornered a wild critter. For some reason my Mistress doesn't want me to dig in the dirt after she gives me a bath. She is awful fussy.

And my Mistress tries to hush me up sometimes too. She thinks my bark can be awful loud, but you got to use volume to get attention.

Tell your Mistress that naps are good for you. I take several each day and always wake up with lots of energy. Then I go outside and race it off. Maybe you should try running around your house and chasing squirrels. It's lots of fun. I keep a close eye that nobody trespasses into my territory day or night. It keeps me dog tired keeping watch on all sides.

I even try to chase the cats, but my Mistress scolds me when I do that. She doesn't think that it is good behavior for a dog. What my Mistress doesn't understand is that I help the cats get exercise. You wouldn't believe how fat and lazy they are.

That cat in the car is just a stuffed cat. My Mistress thinks it is clever for her to have a cat and a mouse in her car. Personally, I think a dog would look much better. Would you mind mentioning that fact to her? She seems to have a blind side when it comes to cats.

Dwight is my friend too. He always talks to me and pets me. I'm not allowed in his room though because a scaredy cat sleeps there. Can you imagine? That cat bristles way up and runs like lightening whenever she sees me. So I always make sure to chase her back into his room whenever she tries to sneak out.

Otherwise, Dwight is a great friend. Do you have any ideas of how I could convince him that dogs are better companions than cats? He used to be close friends with a dog named, Leo, that got killed. I don't look anything like Leo did, but do you think I remind him of his former pet? Humans are so complicated. Us dogs either hate or love. It is less confusing that way.

Well I'd better close this letter for now. Keep eating and a'sleepin on your end and I'll make sure to do the same here.

Lots of doggy hugs and prayers,

Lucy Lou