Hey Mom,

Just to update you on my latest escapade: I’ve turned into Kona Claus, dishing out Yuletide glee and doggy miracles in Pawsburgh! I’m schmoozing through town with Santa Paws, doling out festive collars, and I even got to make a little girl’s Christmas extra sparkly. It’s all wagging tails and heart-melting smiles here. Talk about a pup on a mission! 🎅🐾🎄

Catch you later,
Kona Bear

Listen to the story here

Oh, what a crisp, jingle-bell jangle of a morning in Pawsburgh. Yuletide cheer twinkles like the glint in my big, soulful brown eyes. My name’s Kona, by the way—Pawsburgh’s unofficial Yuletide ambassador. I’m vibing with the holiday spirit, not to mention rocking this elf hat they’ve got me wearing. It’s snug, in a festive sort of way.

So here I am, dashing through the snow—well, not literally, since there’s no snow in Saluki Sands, but you get the picture—on a one-dog open sleigh of adventures. A blur of brown fur and holiday spirit. Today’s agenda is all about spreading cheer. I nose my way through Terrier Town, and the barks of my name are music to my ears. Gotta admit, keeping up with that legendary Mindy Kaling repartee is harder than deciphering a squirrel’s game plan, but hey, your gal Kona is nothing if not determined.

“You go, Kona!” shouts a Jack Russell with a Santa beard that looks a tad askew. I wag my tail; it’s like my personal applause sign lighting up.

At Canine Cafe, they’ve got this Gingerbread Latte thing happening, which, let’s be honest, gives me a whole new perspective on the concept of joy to the world—or at least joy to my taste buds. After a latte that tastes like Christmas morning feels, I trot to Barker’s Bakery, giving high-fours and pocketing some of those bacon-flavored biscuits for the road.

Next thing, I’m on Schnauzer Street, and it’s like Whoville but for dogs, and everyone is merry, but where’s that extra sprinkle of Kona magic? That’s when I see her, a little pup with soft, hurt-your-heart eyes. She’s staring at the window of Pawsitively Purrfect Pet Store, where a shiny collar with jingle bells twinkles under the lights.

Like a canine cupid, my heartstrings get plucked, and I decide this little one is not having anything but the best Christmas ever. So what if I haven’t completely figured out the whole economy thing here? Bells on a collar don’t pay for themselves. Not to worry, though—Kona’s on the case, and Christmas miracles are sort of my jam.

There’s that wise old bloodhound, Santa Paws, back from his world travels. I tell him the little pup’s story, and wouldn’t you know, he lets loose one of those ho, ho, ho’s that you just know means business.

So, cuddle up, because Kona Claus is coming to town. I tell the bloodhound, in the domestic elegance of Mindy to her co-stars, “Santa Paws, we’re about to go full Miracle on 34th Street, dog version. Call it Miracle on Woof Street.”

The big night rolls in, and I’m prancing through the city with more sass than a pup claiming the last stick at the park. Together with Santa Paws, we strut into Canine Couture Clothing, because style waits for no dog, especially on Christmas Eve.

With the collar secure, I make a beeline to that little pup, my elf hat extra jaunty. She’s with her human now—a young girl who looks like she could use some of that Kona cheer. Maybe it’s the collar or the sight of her pup dancing around like crazy, but that girl smiles, a real, no-faking, warmth-in-your-chest kind of smile. It’s like watching your favorite feel-good movie but in real life—heart-swelling, with a solid dash of tinsel.

Me, I’m just a Belgian Malinois spreading Christmas magic, inspiring joy and owner-told adventure tales in Pawsburgh. Hey, even the vacuum doesn’t rattle me today. It’s a holiday miracle. And as for carrots, even they get a pass. It’s Christmas, after all. And this, this moment, is the happy ending in the unending, wag-fulfilling narrative of my life.

Ho, ho, woof!

The End.

Share This Story: