Hey Dad, it’s Hercules (or Teddy Bear),
Hope you’re having a howling good time! Ever wonder what your dog does when you’re not around? Well, I’ve been playing God! I’ve become the Captain of Pawsburg, assembled a pack, tackled a food crisis, even made peace with veggies! Maybe not the typical life of an English Bulldog, but hey, someone’s got to do it! We’re missin’ you around here, especially at story time, but the tail wags on. Bark soon, Hercules.

Listen to the story here

Ahem. Gather ’round folks, and let me spin you this tale of our very own Herculean hero, in a world turned topsy-turvy. It happened in a sleepy city called Pawsburg, a bustling haven for dogs, with whimsically named locales like Husky Hill and Collie Canyon.

One day, everything took a dog-legged-turn. Something catastrophic happened, and poof! All the humans disappeared, including my ‘dad’, leaving us dogs in limbo.

Now, yours truly, Hercules, ain’t just an English Bulldog, oh no! I am the Captain of Pawsburg, a lovable guard, a curious adventurer, and stalwart protector. Armed with my uniquely colored eyes, one a fiery red, the other a milky white–I embarked on the adventure of a lifetime.

My first mission was to assemble my pack. I set off, navigating the quiet alleys and bustling dog parks, calling on the known faces of Pawsburg – Margaux, Beatzie, Boss, Coco, Tank, Lulu, Baker. I, the beloved socialite, suddenly turned leader of the pack.

One might say, adversity breeds unity. While the chaotic world puzzled us, the memories of walking to the Wagging Tail bookstore with my dad or grabbing a hearty meal at Dog-gone Good BBQ, kept us hopeful.

Ah, food, the second mission. Steak, bully stick, tilapia – the food of the ‘olds’ was now scarce, and the remaining cans were more precious than a squeaky toy. Yes, everyone now had to reluctantly chew on, uh, I shudder to admit, vegetables! A person who knows me would tell you, I have a strong distaste for vegetables. I mean, who eats those green crunchies willingly?

But it was not all gloomy at Pawsburg; I took it upon myself to liven up things. You could often see me clinking keys or chucking a ball at The Pawfect Training Center. It earned me happy barks and wagging tails, a sight that could match the joy of a thunder-free day.

One day, I spotted a familiar truck creeping slowly near the South Poodle Pond–the old delivery truck! My heart pounded; delivery person meant human, and human meant…dad? I darted toward the truck, yearning for that familiar face. But alas, it was empty. Although it was a momentary let-down, it sparked a sense of hope in all of us again.

Despite the chaotic times, Pawsburg came alive with the spirit of camaraderie and hope. And yours truly, trialled and tested, learned to persevere. All in all, even though the world went around in a bit of a twirl, us dogs at Pawsburg came out with our tails high. Like they say, when the going gets tough, you can always trust a dog to get going!

The End.

Share This Story: