“Hey fam, Loafing around Spencerville, mid-Pet Games hustle, every challenge a tangy Pup-Cakes breakfast. Oh, the sweet taste of victory ahead, Sammy’s paw high fives keeping me strong. Miss my reindeer stress-buster, but this tail-less Cancer survivor is howling on. Wag you later! – Kiki-boo”

Listen to the story here.

In the magnificent land of Spencerville, that fabled town of second chances, I found a new day dawning over the peaceful Western Labradoodle Lake. It was me, Leo, the indomitable Pitbull mix, known well for my glossy black fur and the blinding white that adorned my chest. I missed my family back in the real world, yes, but the knowledge of being reunited someday dulled the pain of separation.

This wasn’t just another day. Spencerville was gearing up for The Pet Games, and there were whispers of anticipation on the breeze, whispers that reverberated all the way to Brown Boxer Beach. The scent of Pup-Cakes, the chosen breakfast for athletes like me, wafted in the air. I wolfed down my share, preparing for the tough day ahead. The effort of responding to those unsolicited ear cleanings had hardened me for this moment.

As I trotted down the familiar paths of Greyhound Grove towards the game nerve center, my thoughts turned to the reindeer toy that I used as a stress-buster back at home. But here? Here was a game field with challenges a toy won’t solve. But I wasn’t alone. Sammy, my constant companion, loped beside me sharing my excitement.

The games began with a sudden rush, a blur of movement and a cacophony of sound. I circled adversaries, navigated my way through the ever-changing maze of challenges, my 80-pound frame proving to be more nimble than it appeared. I galloped past Fetch! Toys and Treats, through the crowd gathered at Waggle n’ Wok and pushed myself to new levels of agility, all under the hot Spencerville sun.

Between games, sustaining ourselves with the occasional hamburger treat from Canine Cafe, Sammy and I would weave our way, carving our path towards victory. We tackled every hurdle, each obstacle a test to our team spirit and unwavering bond.

Would the opposing neighborhoods cheer when we triumphed? I was not sure. Would the assemblage at Pet Partners Pet Supplies marvel at our performance? That remained to be seen. But one thing I knew – in the heart of the desert, under that desert sun where I’ve basked in many a peaceful nap, my spirit wouldn’t back down.

Could a cancer survivor, a tail-less Pitbull mix from the desert, reign supreme? The crowd waited. Sammy waited. And I, I raced on, hurtling towards the inevitable end, triumphant or otherwise, that would soon bestow its touch on Spencerville’s pet games.

The End.