Hey Mom, Tanner Bo Banner here. Got caught up playing Pawsburgh’s Sherlock – chew toys are disappearing and guess who’s behind it? Darling sis, Lulu Belle! Betrayal in the house. Drama aside, time to set things right and get my toys back. Maltipoo Power! Love, your ever-clever fuzzball.

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Call me Tanner. Only my sister Lulu Belle gets to call me Tan-Man, and that’s the way we roll in the peaceful, yet unpredictable Pawsburgh. As a Maltipoo, I may have curls you’d kill for and an irresistible charm, but there’s another side of me that loves living on the edge, in a town where Milk Bones outweigh manners and that wretched vacuum is as terrifying as the thunder in a storm.

One day, I’m chasing the wind across my beloved Briard Bridge, the next, I’m pushing past the patronage at Doggie Diner, looking for clues. Yes, dear reader, Pawsburgh had a culprit to catch.

You see, someone was stealing all the chew toys in town. I knew because my favorites were missing, stashed away in remote corners no doubt. My adventurous spirit stirred; it was time to trade my usual backyard escapades for some real detective work. All that mystery-solving on TV episodes with the humans were about to pay off.

I padded into The Doggy Depot on Quartz Qimmiq Quarter street, under the pretense of checking out new chew toys. Using my wit, I eavesdropped on conversations. No one suspected me. I may have a stubborn streak, but I’m a freaking adorable Maltipoo, remember?

I overheard some mutt muttering about a conspiracy. Between The Doggy Depot and Doggie Daycare, there was this under-the-table exchange of chew toys that apparently fetch a great price on the streets of Pawsburgh. You could buy a Pup’s Parfait with two chew toys, but hey, who’d do that? I love my missing beloved toys, and steaks? So count me out, period.

As I hovered near Snout Snacks, I smelt a familiar, comforting smell. My heart pounded like the tail of an anxious Retriever. Yes, there were Milk Bones nearby. But before I could wag my tail in pleasure, a harsh whisper broke the silence.

“Got any chew toys to exchange? The ones for Milk Bones?”

I snapped my head around to see – oh, the betrayal! My adorable sister Lulu, right before my eyes, dealing with the notorious baddie, Mailman. I knew that guy was a spy! You can fur-get about any darn evidence.

“You got the Bones?” Lulu was saying, pawing a chew toy deftly. My chew toy. I thought about going into a frenzy, but my gut told me to stay silent, study them.

My fluffy, innocent Lulu was part of this whole chew toy racket. Suddenly, the world was as gloomy as Pawsburgh on a rainy day. I dreaded this revelation more than any vet visit. Milkbone corruption, chew toy thievery – Pawsburgh had turned more noir than a moonlit night at Shar-Pei Shores.

My curly tail twitched. What was a dog to do? Take down his sister or let villainy win? Could I face the thunder of truth or would I cower from it like it was the despicable roar of a vacuum cleaner?

Well, I licked my lips, looked once more at Lulu, my heart swelling with a poignant mix of love and pain. Remember, I told you how I had this stubborn streak? It’s time to use it. Paw by flippin’ paw, it was time to clean up Pawsburg’s streets. Hope Lulu is up for a long walk. She’s got some explaining to do. After all, we’re family, and in our Pawsburgh, family trumps over chew toys, every single time.

The End.

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