“Dad, you won’t believe this! My fave toy tried to go skydiving into Collie Canyon during a storm! Did I let it go? Nah, took a leap right into the tempest. Sounds thrilling, right? But got my toy back, muddy but happy! Pawsburg is buzzing with my windy escapades. Burger tasted extra delish after my adventure. Anyway, your brave boy Oreo signing off. Woof!”

Listen to the story here

The sky is falling. An overstatement perhaps, but that’s the sentiment, dare I say, the canine consensus sweeping Pawsburg today. This uproar isn’t over a drizzle from Retriever River or ripples on Poodle Pond. No, this is Oreo-level drama. Let me catch you up; you always were a bit slow on the uptake.

‘Remember Oreo, right? Brindle coat, eyes like brandy in firelight. Had the audacity to be both stubborn and endearing at once. The boxer known for his escapades and playfulness, who can extract joy from a dreary situation just like you’d wring water out of a wet towel. Loves his family, friends, and that exceptionally hideous stuffed toy. Crazy for a burger, weird for a dog, right?

The adventure started innocuously; him chasing after his favorite stuffed toy that was caught in a gust whisking it towards Collie Canyon. Thank an Irish Setter’s luck he had just bolted from Doggy Delight, stoked and fueled with half a burger. Gary gave him the other half to save for later, knowing his propensity for the meaty delight.

He reached the canyon, now blustery, more like a tempest really. You see where I’m going, right? His toy was going to end up in the canyon, his favorite toy. A normal dog would’ve let it go, but Oreo – well, he is as normal as polka dot pigeons.

So, this stubborn heart leaps, yes, leaps, into the tempest that was brewing in the canyon. His heart, you couldn’t hear it over the wind, but you could feel it, pounding with excitement and streaks of fear all at once, shaking Pawsburg. Amid the chaos, Oreo would have been swept away into a void, but his dauntless spirit, held him to the ground. A stubborn heart, remember?

Well, the boisterous wind had its way with Pawsburg, causing quiet pandemonium. Would it be alright? Sure. Would it recover? Most likely. But, was life going to be the same again? The Pawsburg folks wondered.

Our four-legged hero emerged, muddy and mildly embarrassed at his misadventure, his treasure saved. As if on cue, Hunter, his sunbathing comrade, and Timber came bounding down to him, reassuring and rebuking in turn. Just another adventure for them. You think it’s peculiar, right? But then, in Pawsburg, we are all a bit peculiar.

Stories of his courageous leap of faith sent ripples across Pawsburg. That’s the kind of sporadic disaster one would expect from Oreo. It’s exhilarating, terrifying and utterly foolish, all at once. But that’s Oreo for you, a canine spectacle that moves the town of Pawsburg in ways one can’t even begin to articulate. This town, it’s nothing without its dogs, their antics and the occasional disasters they juggle.

The End.