Hey Mom,

Had a wild day keeping peace in the pack in Pawsburgh. Tequila shook things up, almost had a fur-flying feud over a frisbee. Played peacekeeper over pie, because what’s a squabble between friends? Remember, family’s everything—even if they’re furry, four-legged, and have a taste for your T-rex plush. Give everyone back home a tail wag for me!

Licks and wags,
Paloma (AKA Toots) 🐾✨

Oh my dog, you would not believe the day I’ve had. It started like any other morning in my human’s cozy abode—soft sunbeams tickling my jowls, and those oh-so-sweet dreams of chicken thighs dancing in my head. There’s just something about chicken, you know? It’s like, hello? Deliciousness calling, Paloma picking up!

Anyway, before I knew it, I was whisked away into the magical bustle of Pawsburgh, because a girl’s got to see her friends. And here’s the kicker, friends are family, right? So, when I trotted over to Kelpie Keys to find my buddies Natty, Guiness, and Kahlua for our daily round of Rough House Royale, things got a little, how should I put it? Complicated.

See, in the enchanting lands of Pawsburgh, the rule is simple: play hard, nap harder. But my playmates, they’re like the three musketeers of mischief, and they had a surprise for me—their new cousin, a spry Chihuahua named Tequila. Now, I’m all about open paws, but Tequila was like a tiny tornado, a whirlwind of energy that could make even the Diamond Doberman Dunes seem tame. And let’s just say, he was not interested in our usual tug-of-war diplomacy.

Family gatherings, am I right? There’s always that one relative.

Things got hairy when Tequila started chasing my stuffed T-rex. “Excuse you, tiny sir!” My roar was the embodiment of “Don’t mess with my stuff,” but it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, right? It’s the size of the fight in the dog, and this pint-sized pooch had enough fight to take on the Rottweiler wrestlers of Vizsla Valley!

Speaking of Vizsla Valley, that’s where the trouble really began. While I was busy fending off tiny teeth from my prehistoric plush, Natty decided we needed a pawlaver at Pom’s Pies. Apparently, Kahlua had some serious beef with Guiness. (And let me tell you, in Pawsburgh, beef isn’t just something you chew on.)

As we settled our fluffy rear ends onto the mismatched chairs of the pie place, it was clear something needed to be done about the family feud. I mean, how could we enjoy the savory chicken pot paws pie with this kind of tension? And yes, chicken. Focus, Paloma.

It turned out that Kahlua felt overshadowed by Guiness’s new trick—turning 360s in the air to catch a frisbee—and no amount of Poodle’s Pasta could cover up the sibling rivalry stewing between them. Call me Dr. Palom-Freud or something, but I just had to step in.

“So, we’re not going to let a little ol’ frisbee divide the pack, are we?” My words were as calm as the still waters of The Canine Cafe’s pet bowls. “Remember the Great Tail Chase at the Pooch Playhouse?” I reminded them softer. “Who was there for whom? That’s what families do.” The nodding of heads, the grinning of teeth, Tequila even stopped gnawing my T-rex for a second.

I told them we’re stronger than this, that every dog has its day, and every pup brings something special to the dog pile. We licked, we made up, and we ended the day with a slice of Pom’s best apple pie. And fine, maybe Tequila nabbed a bite of my T-rex again, but this time, I let him.

Because at the end of the day—when the last tumbleweed rolls through Diamond Doberman Dunes and the last light sweetly whispers goodbyes to Pawsburgh—it’s not just about the tug-of-war victories, the high-barked dramas, or even the scare of a looming vacuum. It’s about family, friends who become your pack, and whether or not you win or lose, having each other’s furry backs.

And that, decidedly, is the tail of my day. No bones about it.

The End.