Forget the politics — Bo deserves a happy home

I was listening to all of the crazy talk about the President and First Family's new puppy, Bo. Woof. I'm glad the dog has found a home. A healthy, happy home is all a dog can ask for in this world. 

While Mauly and I aren't living in the White House, we have Mom and Mr. Food Boy. Actually, we are living in a whitish, brick house on the Texas-Mexico Border. We like our people. Really, it's LOVE!

I was shocked by the attempts to make Bo's arrival meet some politically correct story line. Many people wanted the Obamas to adopt a shelter dog. It would encourage others to do the same. But, Malia Obama's dog allergies put a crimp in that plan.

No shelter dog was found, but the spin masters in D.C. are making it out like Bo is a quasi-shelter dog. The fact is — the one that keeps getting repeated is — that the dog had an owner briefly, but "it wasn't a good fit." Sen. Ted Kennedy stepped in to arrange the dog for the Obama family. 

If Bo lived with a Kennedy or near a Kennedy or with a Kennedy family trainer, I don't believe you can call it a "quasi-shelter" dog. 

The origin of the dog seems less important to me. When a dog joins a family, the pedigree of the family becomes more important. I give the Obamas two paws up, because they made a commitment to get a dog — to get their Bo. The family researched the dog. The family will walk and love their dog. 

Mom and Mr. Food Boy feed us, but I'm not sure how that will work in the White House. I'm sure there will be other people, who will help the family care for Bo. I'm just happy for Bo.

Forget the politics. Every dog deserves a happy home with a good family. 

Woof Woof Easter

Mauly and I got a first-hand look at some Easter Eggs this morning. Happy Easter.

Mr. Food Boy tried to make them last night, but Mom was exhausted. Funny, how getting up at 4 a.m. seems to suck the life out of her.

The Georgia relatives left at 5 a.m. on Saturday. Mom stayed up to do laundry, etc. while they were driving to the airport in San Antonio.

Mr. Food Boy had intended to color the eggs with my human cousin Rosa, but he forgot! Or, was it that he didn't find the dye until Saturday afternoon.

Either way, we had a great visit with the relatives and preparation is already under way for the Iowa and Massachusett relatives. They arrive in a week and a half.

Mauly and I really miss Rosa. She played with us. She petted us. She let us both sit in her lap (and that's a real struggle with Mauly since they are essentially the same size -- give or take three pounds). She let us sniff her. She even let us lay on her.

Sometimes, it's difficult to find humans, who really get us. Rosa did. We'll miss her, but she had to return to class. This thing our people call "Spring Break" apparently doesn't last forever.

We'll remember the visit and look forward to the next time Rosa visits.

We welcome (almost) all to our pack

Today, I found a great treat while doing my daily surf of top headlines. I found an article about how to introduce your dogs to the new baby. This is an important one to me since Mom and Mr. Food Boy have been discussing this lately.

Mauly has been on Mom's watch list since, there was a profile on her breed. The TV show wasn't too keen on the idea of Mauly's kind and little children. We'll see if Mauly can prove that wrong when our human cousin Rosa enters our home this week.

The article I pawed across today talks about how important it is for humans to keep a dog's routines while introducing the new bundle of joy into the household. I know Mom and Mr. Food Boy have been talking about routines a lot just in preparation of company.

"Mauly really needs a walk in the morning," Mr. Food Boy said. The extra walk will help keep her high energy in check (they hope). Otherwise, she might be a jumping, shedding beast.

"Yes, I'll walk her in the mornings," Mom promised. I heard her, so if Mom tries to back out of the arrangement, I'm telling Mr. Food Boy.

I love my Mom, but Mr. Food Boy has been kind enough to take me on evening walks in recent weeks. I'm loyal to him when it comes to walks. On other issues, I'm a little squirrelly if Mom is in the room. No point in lying about it.

The best news I read in the article about babies is a reminder that dogs (that's Mauly and me) shouldn't be punished or banished from a room when a baby arrives. That just gives us more reason to be jealous. Make us part of the experience by letting us sniff the baby's stuff and getting us used to a baby's scent.

When Mom's friend Julie and her boyfriend Mark came for a visit, we behaved OK. Granted we jumped a little too much and we probably licked them a little too much. Heck, we probably rubbed, leaned and sat on them too much.

Mauly and I like to think of ourselves as a friendly pack. We welcome all human creatures into our pack -- big ones and little ones. Of course, we might sniff them, lick them and (I'll be honest sometimes, I get excited and pee on their feet.

Introduce us slowly to a baby (or new people for that matter) and we're just fine. Of course, rule No. 1. NEVER, NEVER leave us alone in a room with the baby. That's just common sense.