“Hey mom, just checking in from the ‘Bulldog Venture’. Just back from Pawsburgh where I indulged my beefy chew cravings from Snooty Snout & turned down fish sushi again lol. Some spots were scorching but mostly it was amazing, filled with beauty and buddies. Space cleanup still sucks but I put up with it for the next adventure. The galaxy’s my playground, and everything’s better with pals! Catch you on the next trip. – Big M”

Listen to the story here

Watching Mugsy snuggle deeper into his plush dog bed, all background noise faded, replaced by the subtle hum of the transporter. I’m his best buddy and associate on board the Starship “Bulldog Venture.” This ship is fueled by the limitless energy and boundless curiosity we dogs possess, though Mugsy’s calm demeanor frequently masks these traits.

As the transporter whirred to life sending a chime through the ship, my ears perked up. Another trip to Pawsburgh! The word itself was like a magical incantation to us. Mugsy stirred, his cropped ears rotating like radar dishes, tuned precisely to the transporter’s hum.

On one memorable trip, Mugsy dragged me into The Snooty Snout Boutique after spotting a chew toy designed like his beloved cow hoof. I remember the twinkle in his eyes when he spotted an armoir stuffed with ground beef-flavored doggie chews. He was like a kid in his favorite candy store.

At The Cat’s Meow Sushi, savoring the rich fishy scents wafting in the air, I couldn’t understand Mugsy’s reluctance to try sushi. He’s always been a ground beef aficionado. But as we sat on the terrace dining on our meals, overlooking the beautiful Southern Golden Retriever River, I realized what Pawsburgh meant to us.

Our adventures frequently took us to dazzling places like the Western Fawn Pug Palace with its endless rolling plains and the Siberian Summit its frosty peaks beckoning us from afar. Mugsy dubbed these places as ‘Pawsburgh’s treasure troves.’

However, even in Pawsburgh, there were places he didn’t fancy. Once, we landed in a vast expanse, mirroring the Earth’s desert environment. Mugsy tried his best to play along, but his discomfort was clear, the hot, fierce winds ruffling his light brown fur and squinting eyes.

While a visit to Pawsburgh was always thrilling, coming back to “Bulldog Venture” held its own charm. Mugsy and his pals, Chichi, Bandit, Minnie Pearl, and Ice would often regale one another with their adventurous tales.

Though Mugsy generally disliked the ship’s vacuum protocol, or as I call it ‘Ear Cleaning Protocol,’ it seemed his love for our starship and subsequent adventures far outweighed his dislikes.

As the days turned into months, as I observed Mugsy taking in the wonders of the universe with an ever-brightening sparkle in his eyes, I realized something profound. For Mugsy, and dogs like us, Pawsburgh wasn’t merely an escape or an adventure, it was his playground, his domain, where he could be his true free-spirited self—adventurous, fearless, stubborn, and boundlessly loving. For us, every trip to Pawsburgh was a ‘boldly go where no dog had gone before’ kind of journey. It was not just about stepping paw in new places but experiencing the galaxy’s wonders in the companionship of our closest pals.

After all, what was an adventure if not shared, right Mugsy?