“Hey Mom, Spencerville and I are doing great! From hot dog haunts to doggy pals, it’s been a wild ride! Peanut butter is still gross and lakes kinda dull, but I’m learning to appreciate silence. Daphne and the gang are awesome, massages are treating me right. Still don’t love alone time, but getting used to it. I’m finding my groove, Mom. Can’t wait to see what’s next! – Little Dude”

Listen to the story here.

I’ve often been told that being here is a gift, but you could say it’s more of a rite of passage. When I first came to Spencerville, I was younger, merely getting by on instinct and the kindness of others. I had an inner energy bursting with anticipation, much like the way the hot dog sizzles when placed on the grill at Paws on the Grill. It’s a favorite spot of mine, despite my simple palate that mostly craves a portion of my unvaryingly mundane prescription diet.

East Pug Palace, Brindle Brown Boxer Beach, you name it, I’d romp around this town with that two-headed sea monster toy of mine and a dream, mostly a dream of fresh jerky or cheese. But addressing the journey to where I am now means I must tackle the uniqueness of my personal dislikes, like the first time I got a whiff of peanut butter. Terrible, you would think. I once thought so too. But dealing with allergies is all the same here, and I wouldn’t change it even if I could.

Being here has taught me that it’s not always about the restless spirit of fun, as I’d thought it was when I lived in the human world. There were times I’d frolic in the Shepherd Skyline mountains and then, not too gradually, I’d want more. I discovered, though, not all outdoors are created equal. No, they are not. There are places like lakes and the pools—don’t even get me started on them dull water bodies.

Even in this town, loud noises could always ruffle my fur and being alone isn’t particularly appealing. But I am realizing that there’s beauty in the silence – a whispering wind, rustling leaves. Silence now feels like a blanket stitched with small moments of solitude and peace.

Although my love for my own isn’t jaded—heaven forbid, I’ve created wonderful bonds here. Reo, Gus, Alfie, Lambeau, Nigel, Bonzi, Raffa, they’re like stars in my Spencerville’s sky. And Daphne, oh Daphne. Thinking about her colors every moment in this town. She’s here, always my little shadow.

Perhaps the most significant development has come with my weekly visits to Woof and Whisker Wellness Center. Here, among the soothing massages and holistic treatments, I found something unexpected – my fears of being alone, of silence, of peanut butter began to melt away. Just as my heart settled in every delightful exploration of Spencerville, my mind and soul found comfort in its quirks and intricate characters. There I was, a naïve pup thrust into a burst of new life, now transformed into a dog enriched by the beautiful simplicities and complex realities that Spencerville offers.

So this is Spencerville, a place of heartening stories, adventures, friendships, misadventures, discoveries. And as I walk these streets, brimming with newfound wisdom and understanding, I think to myself, “I’ve made it. I’ve bloomed under Spencerville’s sun.” And that, in itself, has been the most beautiful journey of coming to age. Yet, the charm of this story lies in the knowing that I have an even brighter path ahead, for around every corner there are lessons to learn and stories to tell. And I cannot wait to see what comes next at Spencerville.

The End.