Howdy! I’m the new one here, and Mom thought I should write a little note to my new friends out there. I hear you have a lot of questions about me.
I’m Buster. And I’m doing pretty well here with my new family. I’ve been here 5 weeks now, which is 35 weeks — over 1/2 a year in Dog Years. And I like my new family a lot.

I haven’t told my Mom & Dad a lot about my past, and it wouldn’t be polite to tell you before I tell them. So you’ll know as much as they do about me in that respect…

• I’m somewhere between 4 & 7 years old, and Mom & Dad think I’m younger now that I’m a little more active seeing I’ve lost some weight.
• What happened when I was a puppy and how I got to the shelter is still a mystery to my folks.
• I’m some type of cross between a hound and something else. Guesses have been beagle/bassett; bassett/lab and beagle/pointer. I have a lot of resemblances. You could call me Kevin Bacon.

Speaking of Bacon - I LOVE BACON. Paul cooked bacon and gave me some when we were camping. He picked me up over some of those rocks when we were hiking instead of leaving me there. So he’s my new friend.

I like the house they let me live in. I really like hanging out with Mom & Dad. They got me my own bed in their room, and another poofy thing in the room they leave me in when they go to make my dogfood appear. They take me for walks, and to the store, and for creemes. And camping and canoeing.  I like to canoe.  Mom & Dad got me my own lifejacket and let me sleep in the boat while they paddle it around.  But don’t make me swim — my neck is too short and I snort water.  ICK.

I like anything with a treat in it. I don’t like plain rawhide, or running after anything unless its a rodent or its filled with treats. I like KONG treats the most. Those & Greenies.

I like people and other dogs. I’m short — so I bark to let you know that I’m here and want to hang out with you. Once we’re introduced I’m a pretty quiet guy. I love to cuddle, nap, and give doggie kisses to your legs. The cats don’t like me yet — because they don’t want to cozy with me. But once I stopped eating their food they’ve stopped hissing at me and running out of the room when I come in. I want to be their friend, so hopefully they get nicer to me soon.
Mom & Dad are my favorite friends to hang out with. Emma & Mesa are the 2 girls on my street that I like to sniff. They’re yellow labs so they’re both bigger than me, but they are fun to look for when I go on my walks. Sometimes they get loose and visit me. I’ve tried to visit them a couple of times, but Mom & Dad always find me and bring me back home.

I’d have to say Paul is my friend too — because of that bacon. If you bring me bacon I’ll be your friend too — but maybe not Mom & Dad’s ’cause they are trying to keep me slim for the ladies.

If you come over to visit my folks; you’ll probably see me trying to be a good dog. I’ll try to be nice to you. But don’t leave food where I can get it (like outside on a paper plate under your lawn chair) because then I’ll eat it on you!

Bye!

–Buster

This weekend we went camping with 3 of our friends.  Paul, Candice, Rob Vatter, and Rob, Buster & I spent the weekend at Lake Elmore, and climbed Mt. Elmore, all the way up to the top to the water tower, and to the balancing rock.

Buster came too. And kept up.  We had to carry him on a couple of steep spots, and up to the top of the water tower, because his legs were too short to climb.  Everywhere else, he was ready, able, and willing to hike.

It was a lot of fun.  Good hiking, good camping, good food, friends, and card games.  All-in-all, a super weekend.

Have you missed us?  We’ve been pretty delinquent in chatting.  Sorry.

In July, Rob’s brother Tom came to visit for the weekend.  We had a barbeque that Friday, then on Saturday Mike & Rebecca came to visit.  The 5 of us went to the Magic Hat brewery for a tour, and then walked around the Shelburne Museum.

We toured the steamship Ticonderoga, went to the on-site jail, and saw some Georgia O’Keefe paintings.  Fun was had by all.