You shake you head, and suddenly the sunlight is now moonlight, and it’s rain, rain, and more rain (well, it feels like a lot to us even if its only one day.)
Jolie Peeking
It has been a while since the house was painted, and quite honestly, we are still in shock. But we’re trying to get back to normal – or at least what passes for normal at the DogDaz Zoo.
Mini Evil Eye
We don’t think that Mini Cooper is ever going to be quite the same. She is getting pretty bossy! Maybe she always was, but it is getting worse with a capital – B. She keeps grabbing Bearnard’s tail, and the other morning she actually hissed at me during breakfast. We’re beginning to wonder who is really in charge around here (though we always knew the answer).
Since we last caught you up, Mom closed the pool becuase of all the falling leaves.We’re not sure why she thinks that is necessary, but apparently swimming is now cancelled until spring. Not that we ever went in that big blue body of water, it was tooo cold!
And then there’s the rain.
Beary hiding behind Jolie at the door in the rain
We do not want to go outside to do our business when it’s raining. Mom even comes out with us, trying to convince us that everything will be okay. But we are not falling for it. We won’t even step over the doorjam.
Mom tried to help. Unfortunately, she accidently sent Beary flying into the grass with a BANG!, And now even Bearnard has decided that going outside is simply not worth the risk.
We have our standards, you know.
Meanwhile, PoleCat, our stuffed cat that looks suspiciously like a pole, has really started to get on my nerves. Mom keeps finding PoleCat lying on the floor – or even worse, under the coffee table.We’re pretty sure someone is kicking her off the couch, but no one is talking.
PoleCat on the floor
I’m keeping a close eye on her.
Jo & Bear & PC
The mornings are getting darker when we start our day, and now the nights are dark too when we go for our last outing.
Which brings us to the really important questions:
Does this mean we will need sweaters soon?
I certainly hope not.
Although… Mom does think we look pretty cute in sweaters.
So, we may have to start planning our winter wardrobe.
Until next time, stay dry, stay warm, and remember:
Summer has officially arrived here at the DogDaz Zoo!
Mom says it’s much too hot for us to stay outside very long, but we still love to stretch out in the grass whenever we get the chance. Some days she won’t even let April, our dog walker, take us for our morning walk because by 9:00 a.m. the humidity is already unbearable, and the sidewalks are too hot for little paws like ours. Mom says it’s just not worth the risk.
How Hot is Too Hot?
When we’re stuck inside, we try to keep ourselves entertained. The problem is, neither of us ever learned how to play when we were puppies, so toys don’t really interest us very much. Bearnard did come from the foster with a few toys (an owl and a Santa), which he secretly moves around the house, but no one ever sees him do it. For me, fill something with food.. now you are talking fun!
Mom serves our lunch in snuffle mats, which Bearnard absolutely loves because he gets to sniff out every last morsel. I check just in case he leaves anything (Mom says I’m the clean up crew). After dinner, we get treats hidden inside puzzles, and that’s my favorite part of the day (I’m Jolie, in case you forgot.) I have been snuffling for a long time. Here I am with my old man, blind Charles, the PomChi.
While the lazy summer days rolled by, Bearnard celebrated his 5th birthday on July 4th! That probably isn’t his real birthday, but when he was rescued they said that he was born sometime in summer. Mom has a tradition of giving us holiday birthdays unless we arrive with official records. Only Nikki and Charles came with actual birthdates. Rosie and Nine, the cats, were both February 14th, and that is my birthday too.
Beary came with Santa and secretly moves him around the house.
Then, on July 9th, we celebrate my 4th Gotcha Day! It’s hard to believe I’ve only been here 4 years because Mom says it feels like I’ve been part of the family forever. I think that’s because I’ve completely taken over her heart…and most of the couch. I was 6-1/2 years old when I rescued Mom, and now I am a big 10-1/2!
PoleCat is Mine!
Even PoleCat – our stuffed cat who looks suspiciously like a pole – is spending most of her days snoozing. It’s simply too hot for much of anything.
Mom’s new hip is getting stronger every week. She’s even gone back to work, which makes us a little sad. We sure miss when she is laying around the house all day for extra cuddles, naps, and snack breaks. We’re very proud of how well she’s recovering – but if you ask us, her retirement can’t come soon enough.
Hello, dear friends. It is I, Bearnard—small in stature, quiet in presence—returning to keep you properly informed.
Since we last spoke in March… well. Life has been a lot. Let me bring you up to speed.
🧸 The PoleCat Saga (Victory Is Mine)
You’ll be relieved to know I have successfully regained control of PoleCat*—my beloved, slightly questionable companion. We are once again inseparable.
There was an incident. Jolie, in a completely unprovoked act of aggression, launched PoleCat off the couch in what I can only describe as an attempted assassination. Fortunately, Mom intervened, rescued PoleCat, and restored her rightful place among the pillows.
Jolie tried to take possession of PoleCat
Order has been reestablished.
PoleCat is my bff
🌸 Weather, But Make It Confusing
Spring arrived… but not in a normal way. One night: snow. Next day: summer. Honestly, it feels like we’re living inside a strange Ursula K. Le Guin novel set on a chaotic planet.
Spring has sprung
And the pollen. Oh, the pollen.
Here by the Chesapeake Bay, everything is covered in a thick yellow dust. The humans call it pollen, but I call it betrayal. Instead of seasoning things with Old Bay, the world is now seasoned with what I call Old Yellow.
Pollen and Maple helicopters on the pool cover
Mom has us on tiny pink pills—Benadryl—which allegedly help with sneezing. I remain skeptical but slightly less sniffly.
🐱 The Reign of Mini Cooper
Mini Cooper (the cat) has entered what I believe is her villain era.
She has claimed Mom’s recliner as her throne and now requires us to approach with what can only be described as respectful submission. Eye contact is risky. Proximity requires permission.
We bow to your greatness, Princess Mini Cooper
We are monitoring the situation closely.
🍪 Holidays = Betrayal (Again)
Mom was very busy cooking for Passover and made something called macaroons.
Mom’s coconut macroons with dark chocolate
Everyone loved them.
We were denied access.
We received apples.
I trust you understand the injustice.
Then came Easter, which, as usual, involved large quantities of human-only candy. K8 was here (Peanut was away), and there was still an Easter egg hunt because apparently humans never outgrow joy or baskets.
AI generated: We would never allow such an embarassment
Frankly, I respect that. I, too, believe in year-round treats.
🤫 My Secret Life (Do Not Share)
There is something you should know, but you must keep it between us.
I am… a closet toy player.
I never play in front of humans. It’s a private art. But somehow, my toys mysteriously appear all over the house. No explanation.
My favorites:
The blue ball that releases cookies (a masterpiece)
My snuffle mat lunch situation (highly refined)
Fun time
Again—this stays between us.
🚶♀️ Enter April (Best Dog Walker Ever)
Mom isn’t walking well right now because she’s getting a new hip soon (honestly, bold upgrade), so we have a dog walker named April.
After breakfast, I wait in the foyer for what feels like years.
Where is April?
Then she arrives.
And I become… speed.
I run. I spin. I zoom between rooms like a highly trained athlete. When we get home, I sprint upstairs to Mom, then back to April, then back again. Sometimes I add couch-jumping for flair.
Jolie, meanwhile, strolls in calmly and lies down like she’s better than me.
She is incorrect.
🚗 Adventures in Car Riding
Because of the whole hip situation (and also our deep suspicion of the cane and the wheeled walking contraption), Mom takes us on car rides instead.
I prefer the front console—close to Mom, excellent visibility, superior vibes.
Field trip!!
Jolie enjoys the window.
Sometimes we are buckled into the back seat, which we strongly oppose, but Mom insists it is “for safety.” I suppose she means well.
🐱Stella Update (Very Important)
Our dear Stella, the cat—who, as you know, has GI Lymphoma—is doing well.
She had her annual visit with Dr. Sims (which she loudly objected to), but overall, things are stable. Her medications—Prednisolone, Cisapride, and Miralax—are helping a lot.
Xray of Stella’s insides
Also, she is 14 years old, which I believe qualifies her as wise and slightly magical.
🌧️ Final Thoughts from a Small Philosopher
Today it is stormy. The little helicopter seeds are spinning down from the maple trees like whirly birds… or perhaps tiny dancing fairies. I haven’t decided yet.
Mom’s surgery is coming up in May, so updates may be delayed. But rest assured—I will continue to observe, report, and protect PoleCat at all costs.
Did we tell you about Bearnard’s new best friend? Oh, buckle up—this is a story.
It all started innocently enough.K8 gave C a PoleCat (PoleCat #1) for Christmas. Totally festive; wholesome. My girls love cats.
C and PoleCat #1
Then, in what can only be described as a bold escalation, K8 gifted V another PoleCat (PoleCat #2) for her birthday in January. And, she liked the cat so much, she bought one for herself (PoleCat #3).
The PoleCats were … multiplying.
Enter Bearnard.
Bearnard and his bff, PoleCat
Somewhere along the way, Bearnard claimed PoleCat #2 as his own. No paperwork, no formal adoption—just vibes. One day, he was a single guy. The next? He was in a committed, sleep-every-night-together relationship.
Now, for context: PoleCat is a stuffed animal with very short arms and legs. Sound familiar? Yes. It is essentially Bearnard in plush form. A tiny, floppy doppelgänger (but as a cat). Honestly, it’s a little uncanny. We’re not saying Bearnard has found his emotional support twin… but we’re also not not saying that.
Beary loves PoleCat
Papillons, as you may know, have the daintiest, most delicate little legs and feet. Bearnard is basically a walking collection of twigs and fluff. Adorable, yes—but also clearly someone who appreciates a companion of similar… structural integrity.
Beary loves PoleCat every day
Of course, where there is joy, there is Jolie.
Big sister, Shih Tsu, Jolie has made it her personal mission to monitor—and, if possible, confiscate—anything Bearnard loves. She is the self-appointed Fun Police. If Bearnard is enjoying something, Jolie is immediately on the scene like, “I’ll take that, thank you.” She is bossy. She is relentless. She is deeply committed to being in charge of everything, including objects that are not hers and have never been hers.
Jolie, the PoleCat, stealer
Jolie guarding PoleCat
But here’s the twist: Bearnard does not care.
Despite Jolie’s best efforts, he remains devoted to PoleCat #2. He sleeps with her and generally behaves like he has found his soulmate in stuffed form. It’s a love story for the ages. Or at least for the living room.
Bearnard just loves PoleCat
Who knew Bearnard had this kind of emotional depth? Certainly not us. But we support him. And his tiny, equally tiny-limbed companion.
Ten years is a very long time to be on earth when you only weigh 16 pounds. But since I didn’t come to live with Mom until I was 6-1/2, maybe I’m really only 4. Mom seems to like that math – and honestly, so do I.
I may have had a rough start in life, but wow… what an amazing “now” I have. When I first came home, I had my big brother Charles (the Pomchi). I loved him very much – and I’m pretty sure he liked me too. (Which is great because he didn’t like most things.)
Charles and Jolie Sept ’22
When he crossed the rainbow bridge to that big meadow in the sky, my little brother, Bearnard (the Papillion) joined the crew. Beary and I are the bestest of buds and partners in all things fun (and snacks).
And, let’s talk about timing – having a birthday on Valentine’s Day? That’s basically winning at life. Extra love, extra cuddles, and probably extra treats. What’s not to love?
Here’s to another year of wagging tails, happy hearts, and being Mom’s favorite little Valentine. – Jolie Olie, the amazing Shih Tsu
But Mom says it’s “below zero” and that apparently means we must dress like puffy marshmallows. Rude! Even worse, she only lets us play for five whole minutes. FIVE. Meanwhile, Bearnard casually wanders to the far side of the ice floe where she can’t reach him for at least another five minutes. Coincidence? We think not. She say’s he is going to turn into a Pupcicle!
We are not used to this whole “not walking for many days” situation. But Mom keeps saying things like “below freezing” and “icy, dirty, salty streets are not for little feet.” Dramatic, honestly.
How is where you live? Is winter also attacking your dignity?
We will admit… being inside isn’t terrible. Warm, snuggly beds and blankies help. Jojo loved it so much she ran back inside with her coat on. At one point, Beary lost his coat and was crying and shivering, which led to Mom using her cane to help him get up the frozen staircase like a winter rescue mission.
So tell us – WHEN will this freeze end?
Maryland dogs are simply not built for weeks and weeks of Arctic nonsense. It’s for the birds!
Signed,
Two very cold, very offended pups (and one cat, who could not care less since she lives inside) 🐶🐶
Wishing all our fur-friends and their humans a pawsome New Year!
Get into some good trouble (but try not to get caught… like I always seem to – like walking on the coffee table the other day (below)).
Take lots of naps – preferably in inconvenient places. Stick with your friends through zoomies and sad days alike. Always share the sunny spot on the stairs (unless you get their first).
And whatever you do, don’t bother Mini Cooper, the cat, too much… she’s cranky, she knows it, and she’s waiting for an excuse.
Too much noise!!!!
Who me?
Caught red pawed!
ZZZzzzzzZZZZ
Super Chill
Stella
Revolving Beds #1
Revolving Beds #2
Scenes from 2025
May 2026 bring you peace, health, and lots of fun things!
Love – Jolie, Bearnard, Stella, Mini Cooper and Mom (the DogDaz Zoo)
