From the Notebook, observations on old dogs by an old man

Beano ~ What a codger! His tolerance for puppy shenanigans is pretty low, especially first thing in the morning.

Mr. Beano Miller

We have this ritual, Beano and I. He signs from his crate in the corner; an ear flap, a low whimper. I usually need to pee anyway. I let him out of his lair, and he jumps up in bed. He eventually settles in, hard against my left side, and we go back to chasing dreams.

He stands at my side, a long-suffering Jeeves, awaiting a word with his Wooster. I look down from the keyboard. “Excuse me, sir,” he says, “but if you will notice, the pup on the

right--I believe you call him Frank, sir--is gnawing an onion.”

Since the pups moved in--and I do mean moved in, like congressmen on unkissed babies--Beano and I hardly have our personal time, our stolen moments.

PUpdate:

Frank (left), Ella (top) and Louie getting after it!

Frank (Sinatra), Louie (Armstrong) and Ella (Fitzgerald) are sailing through early puppyhood, and a rowdier crew of cuddlebugs you’re not likely to find this side of Rainbow Bridge.

Appetites appear bottomless as they dance Ring Around the Pie Plate while hoovering up Victor (Blue), Select Beef Meal & Brown Rice.

Ella came to us with a slight case of puppy runs, what we affectionately refer to as poopy shoes. We treated--in more ways than one--with Mamma Jan Herzog's Powerful Pumpkin Cure, otherwise known as cooked, canned pumpkin puree. We all know NOT to use canned pumpkin pie filling, don't we.

By the way and since we're on foods, Frank did not eat any of the onion.

Ella, Frank, Louie

Seems you can see them growing daily. Awake, they are going, wrestling, sniffing, digging, harrassing, sassing, running with the Big Dogs or teasing a cat until they stop. Just like that. To nap.

They can't wait to leave the house for a romp in the backyard, even in these bitterly cold mornings. Our resident dogs, Beano and Lazlo, ride herd on them and otherwise show them the ways of The Yard. They're learning boundaries, and who to listen to and take cues from; pack things, I suppose you might call it, things best passed on from dog to dog.

There's more. With puppies there is always more. But this will have to do for now. Dogs need another bag of Victor Blue, and I'm due down at the dealership.

Annie's senior cat Al*B is looking for a penthouse view since the pups moved in.

They are, after all, newbie puppies

Stinky Cat looks on as puppies confront Master Beano.

Three puppies came to stay at our house. Three rambunctious, curious,

8-week-old newbies with a lot to learn. Big puppies, bigger than our own Lazlo Chiweeny who finds this crew a little intimidating. He thinks he wants to kill them, but he knows he can’t. They are, after all, puppies.

I cut a paper collar off the runt. "A29656204 Male" is written on the green facing in bold black marker. That's how he was known down at the pound. A2 and his siblings were owner-surrenders, dropped off by humans as no longer wanted. Or never wanted in the first place.

Puppies certainly raise hell, don't they? And these guys bring a certain celebrity with them, a growing social media presence trending mainly here, in Wichita Falls circles, and branching out to Flower Mound, toward New York. These guys are local rock stars, and damned if they don't act like they know it!

Louie's green paper collar is marked A29656204 Male.

So why would a couple of old married people, supposedly in their Golden freaking Years, take to foster three energetic, ravenous, "It's ALL about ME!" puppies? I mean, you KNOW why puppies are so damned cute, dont' you? It's Ma Nature's way of keeping all god's creatures from killing 'em. Why, indeed?

Asking to take on these three gave Annie and I naming rights. It's good to be Senior Foster Parents! We knew the names had to be triplets--as in Lion, Tiger and Bear--but not just any old triplet--Larry, Curly, Moe. Plus we had to have two boy names and a girl name. Peter, Paul and Mary! Ultimately, it was Annie's entry that took the vote and stuck. Frank, Louie and Ella.

Ella takes five from a boistrous meet and greet.

Fine voices all and strong, this trio. They will be with us for at least a month, at the end of which time we are expected to turn over three young, healthy, happy dogs; house trained and friendly to other dogs, cats and people. And if you can work in tolerance for human children, so much the better.

Like Betty said, It's gonna be a bumpy ride. You, Dear Reader, are welcome to FOLLOW along for these next five weeks and see how it goes. We'd appreciate your COMMENTS, too.

Anniepie Miller provided the pics. Rumor has it she has VIDEO!

Kimber Farrar-Hopkins, who is Emily's Legacy Rescue, pulled these guys from the lock up at the 11th hour.

Jan Herzog provided transportation and got our guys into the Road to Forever-Love on Wheels program for a fresh beginning through Helping Hounds Dog Rescue.

I'm Jim Miller. I string words together.

Our thanks to all the above and to all of you, Dear Readers, for being a part of what we do.