Every day is some kind of special day on the internet. Actually, I think we should consider every day a special day – another day to live and love. But the special days I’m talking about are when somebody – I don’t know who – declares that this is “Ice Cream for Breakfast Day” or “Eat a Pizza Day.” I just looked up special days in February and found out that Sunday was “National Sticky Bun Day.” Today, Monday, is “National Cook a Sweet Potato Day.” Marley and Charley are ready for tomorrow’s special day “National Dog Biscuit Day.”
But in this post I’m still thinking about Saturday’s “National Love Your Pet Day.” If you are on social media, you probably saw a lot of posts of people’s furry friends or perhaps feathered friends or even scaly friends. I prefer the furry friends and I’ve had plenty through the years until now I have my sweet walking buddies, Frankie and Marley. Frankie has been enjoying the snow, running across the fields and breaking through the crusty top until he sounds like a horse coming toward you. Marley, lighter and with snowshoe big feet, whispers along after him. Of course Marley is going on ten so he walks more than runs. Sort of like me.
Here’s Frankie begging to go on one of those walks. When he thinks it’s time for our walk, you can’t talk him out of it. A great exercise motivator.
So, in honor of Saturday’s Love Your Pet Day here are some lessons in living life we can learn from our dogs.
1. When a loved one comes home, always run to greet them.
2. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
3. Take naps and stretch before rising.
4. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
5. No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout. Run right back and make friends.
6. Be loyal.
7. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. (Great advice for writers.)
8. If someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
I’m a dog lover and there’s nothing that can pick up my mood better than a dog giving me that “you’re the best person in the world” look. Hope you all have somebody or some pet looking at you that way today.
I’ve written many furry buddies into my stories. Had one some years ago that was for kids that featured a llama. Most of the times my characters have a dog or a cat. Sometimes the pets even play a major role in the story. Sometimes they’re simply part of the family.
Book Giveaway
Just for fun, I’ll have a quick book giveaway this week. To enter, simply leave a comment here naming one of the pets you remember from one of my books or the title of one of my books that has a furry characters. Deadline to enter is Saturday, Feb. 27 at midnight EST. You have to be 18 or older to enter. One winner will be chosen by random drawing and prize will be the winner’s choice of one of my autographed books. I know some of you have read all my books, and you can’t know how much I appreciate that. But if you win, you can always gift the book to a friend.
Do you remember a furry buddy from one of my books? What was the pet’s name? Or what was the title of the book?
(P.S. You can help out your memory by checking out my books on my website. https:/www.annhgabhart.com/books/
Comments 22
I remember Jasper, the sheriff’ s dog in Murder Comes by Mail. I loved that whole series, and the cats were adorable. I loved Bella, the horse ridden by the couriers in An Appalachian Summer, and the puppies and mother dog in that book, but her name escapes me.
Sarge, the dog given to Francine by Ben in “These Healing Hills”.
Author
I’m glad somebody finally remember Sarge, Morgan. He was one hero of a dog and a better romantic gift than a dozen roses. At least, this dog lover thought so when I was writing that scene. 🙂
Grimalkin , Aunt Lindy’s cat in Murder at the Courthouse.
Author
I loved the name Grimalkin for Aunt Lindy’s cat, Connie Lee. She’s the cat that got to pose on the mailbox in Hidden Springs Mysteries, book 2. Loved the way the cover designers matched the cat’s eyes to the background. Great cover.
Oh my, you are really taxing my brain!!! As much as I have loved dogs and cats over the years and as many of your books that I’ve read, to remember the name or the kind OR in which book is beyond my capability. I think Josie had a dog and I’ve read that whole series begging for more, but I wouldn’t bet my life if she did. I’m sorry, but I hope you’ll still enter me into your drawing. What beautiful dogs you have! 🐕😊🐕
Author
Jocie most certainly did have a dog. Zebedee was the answer to her dog prayer in the very first Hollyhill book, Scent of Lilacs. But glad my question gave you some brain exercise, Karen.
Reading other’s replies, I begin to wonder about my memory. I’ve read the murder mystery series, also, and don’t remember the pets. 🤔 But I remember a lot about the stories and how very much I enjoyed them not wanting them to end! I guess that’s a good thing! 😊
Author
A very good thing, Karen. Thank you. The cats were the important pets in those stories since my editors wanted a cat on the covers. Two Bits was important in the first mystery, Murder at the Courthouse. Grimalkin played a part in a climatic scene in Murder Comes by Mail and Miss Marble was the calico on the cover of Murder is No Accident. I still expected people to remember Sarge from These Healing Hills since Ben giving him to Fran was a romantic plus in my heart.
I don’t believe I’ve read These Healing Hills, but I love the dog on the cover. Always wanted a collie when I was growing up! Probably from watching Lassie. 😊 I’m going to have to add that to my list of books to read! 📚
Rusty in “An Appalachian Summer”. I remember it because I have a cousin whose middle name is Rust and we used to call him, “Rusty”.
Author
Rusty is an interesting pick, Linda Diane, but you had good reason to remember him. To be honest when I was thinking about all my dog characters, I had to look to make sure I remember Rusty’s name right. Interestingly enough, some mountain lingo calls a joke a rusty. I use that in my new book and I think I forgot the beagle’s name in An Appalachian Summer and named another dog Rusty. You’ll notice that when you read my new book and wonder if I can’t come up with new dog names. And you might be right.
Jasper. Read all three of those and wish you could expand that series.
Author
You’re the second to come up with Jasper, Loretta. I’m a little surprised by that. I liked Jasper but he wasn’t as much a part of the story as say, Sarge, was in These Healing Hills or Asher in The Innocent. In fact, the Hidden Springs mysteries are way ahead in the name the pet contest here. 🙂
I remember the many horses and the dog in An Applachian Summer. While I don’t remember their names, I remember how helpful they were to the nurses and aides.
Author
There were many animals mentioned and part of the story in An Appalachian Summer, Suzanne. A golden retriever named Ginger. Horses named Puddin and Fancy among many others. A beagle dog named Rusty and many more. I had the fun of naming many animals in that story.
I liked Zebediah in the Hollyhill books. I like the way he just showed up after Josie prayed so fervently for a dog.
Author
You almost got the name right, Lavon. Close enough anyway. Jocie’s dog was Zebedee because he barked so loudly when he was attacking Aunt Love’s cat. Jocie named him after James and John’s father in the Bible since they were the sons of thunder. I doubt that had anything to do with their father, but Jocie thought so. She mostly called the dog Zeb so no wonder you remembered his name as Zebadiah.
There’s Michael Keane’s dog Jasper in Murder at the Courthouse. 🐾
Author
I loved Jasper, Jennifer. He wasn’t a major make a difference character, but since I created him with my own sweet black labs in mind, he was a favorite anyway. He did play a little larger role in Murder Comes by Mail.
I remember Miss Marble the calico cat from “Murder is No Accident”
For some reason that’s the first one I remembered.
Author
Miss Marble is an interesting one to remember, Lisa. You must be a calico cat lover or maybe Miss Marble was a unique name for a cat. It was a play on Miss Marple, Agatha Christie’s character in some of her mysteries.