Dream Writer Ariarose
DWAR
Sometimes Ariarose gets listed as Aria Rose
DWAR stands for:
Dream Warrior and
Dream Writer Aria Rose
as people hear Ariarose
and some split it so I own them both.
Dream Writer Lady Ariarose DWAR at Your Service Forever Friends Faithfully
Join us on a captivating journey through our literary world,
where stories inspire healing and connection in every page.
Violet Eyes Saga Coming Soon * Over 1.4 Million words * 21st Edit * Seeking Publishing
Chewy's Volunteer Page
The Animal Celebration
This page was created by the distinguished bodyguard of her ladyship Ariarose.
I have been a dog all my life and proud to say it. I know there are animals listed here who are said not to be dogs are.
I mean to prove the scientists mistaken.
It is so obvious to me when they declare things like horses, cheetahs, and a long list of things as something other than what they are.
Dogs. Yep, so many mislabeled dogs in the world.
They did that to them even when I KNOWS they are DOGS.
I watch dogs on television and only bark at dogs to say, "Hello. Let's Play."
Therefore, as I bark at horses, cheetahs, lions, and well a list...
They absolutely must be dogs, and surely science is wrong.
(From Lady Ariarose kids....he is wrong, but let's not let Chewy know that, okay? And try our best not to chuckle as he makes his case as to why all sorts of creatures who aren't dogs are dogs.
Teachers.... Challenge...How would you prove to Chewy why he is wrong? Oh and how many are 'mislabelled' according to Chewy, Wearer of Many Hats?
And does he claim in the end all his mislabeled dogs are still dogs?)
The Aardvark Case
Chewy's Official Verdict:
Verdict pending. Long ears. Impressive digger.
Dogs dig. Never seen one on TV.
Possibly a very strange dog. Investigation ongoing.
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Arthur Read is the most famous cartoon aardvarks in history as far as I'm concerned.
He first appeared in a children's book in 1976.
He originally had a long aardvark snout, which was actually the subject of his very first book, Arthur's Nose, where he considered having it changed — and decided to keep it.
Changing ones disliked features is understandable but sometimes what makes us different is something awesome.
Over the years his nose gradually shortened until fans today would hardly recognize him as an aardvark at all! And that is rather sad. What makes us uniquely us is something to cherish, but if he is happy with the change, that is what matters and is fully okay. Mom lost her front tooth long ago. I've lost a few. One of us will get dentures.
The beloved series ran until 2022.
The Ant and the Aardvark is another cool series of 17 theatrical cartoons from 1969 to 1971, follows a blue aardvark attempting to catch a clever red ant named Charlie. Short, funny, and a classic for a reason. Are there blue aardvarks? Doesn't matter; I am sure he is awesome.
Aardvark
Afer, a resident of Colchester Zoo in England, lived to the remarkable age of 32 years old—extraordinary longevity for a species that typically lives around 14 years in the wild.
He and his sister Pieta are among the most documented aardvarks in zoo history.
Aardvarks are considered living fossils and only surviving species of the order Tubulidentata. That means they have tubule-style teeth that lack enamel. But... they are more similar to the early mammals than any other living species. Awesome, right? Over the millions of years they changed very little and survived.
A single aardvark can eat up to 50,000 ants and termites in one night using a tongue that reaches up to 12 inches long.
Long tongues humm.....! Dog's have long tongues. Surely, we are related.
(Never trust Chewy's opinion on who he declares a dog unless you already know he is one. So instead let's dig ourselves some research.)
The Bear Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Bears love food and I love food. This is important as we have common ground. They also have been known to raid a picnic basket for the best scraps, but they scare humans sometimes. Seen them run, and this means they can't be dogs. Even if you shouldn't ever run they will outrun you.
Verdict: Bears are Bears and that is okay. We can still be friends from a safe distance. Outside a Zoo Cage. If my human is leaving out in the open then I am too. Might be they have a temper though.
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Now among my favoritest bears are Yogi and Boo Boo. Yogi Bear first appeared in 1958 as a supporting character on The Huckleberry Hound Show. But he was too big for one show. Obviously as he was awesome and smarter than average. And I think his skill at swiping baskets proves it. I like me grub, but Mom says stealing is wrong and leaving food out is actually dangerous. Bears end up eating lots of things they shouldn't and not all things humans eat are even safe for bears.
His buddy Boo Boo did tell him often. "Mr. Ranger isn't gonna like this, Yogi." He is correct. Every single time.
But you can't always stop your friends doing bad things. Letting someone know when a person will be hurt is sometimes the right call but Boo Boo often went along reluctantly. Peer pressure is tough. Sometimes, we can't find it in us to say no. But we need to do our best.
If your friends are all jumping off.... ugh parents right, but that is something that you have to conclude for yourself ahead.
How do you get past it while retaining friendships? Talk to your parents about hard situations that might come up and make a plan of action for various situations. Like sending a text home and saying, "Mom I need a call to come home over something."
Sorry Guys Mom says I must go do something. But how dangerous are they being? You need to figure out if just saving face is enough in the various situations. Caring about someone sometimes means stopping them even if they get upset with you. This doesn't mean tattle-telling everything, as there is a difference.
Also of note — Winnie the Pooh and Paddington Bear. Paddington's coat to avoid getting wet. Highly respect that. I might be a bodyguard, but I don't do wet.
Bathroom guard duty is done at a safe distance during shower time. I get baths true but demand professionals do such things. Groomers only.
Bears
Kids did you know that there was a REAL Winnie! Yes, a real bear inspired Winnie the Pooh.
Winnie was a female black bear cub discovered in White River, Ontario during World War I. Lieutenant Harry Colebourn bought her from a hunter for just $20 and took her along to England where he was stationed as he was a vet and wanted to care for her. She was named for Harry's hometown of Winnipeg.
She was beloved by his regiment and they made her the unofficial mascot. But bears do get bigger need more space than a house, her new home was the ZSL London Zoo. She lived there from 1915 until she passed in 1934.
She was gentle and tame. Zookeepers actually allowed children into her enclosure and she even let them ride on her back, because she loved kids. Not every bear is like Winnie and one should not assume that is the case.
Christopher Robin Milne visited her regularly and adored her so much that he renamed his own stuffed teddy bear Winnie the Pooh.
The combo was a result of two of his favorite animals. The Pooh came from a swan he loved. His father, author A.A. Milne, wrote the beloved stories that became known around the world for a boy loved creatures greatly.
I think it was 20.00 well spent as there is no price on life. We are all priceless and deserve our place in the world.
HISTORICAL FACT
Bears have been on this planet for millions of years!!!
Amazing right, they have been around for a long time. And bears have adapted coats so they can blend in with their environments. The Polar Bear with that beautiful white fur that lets them hide snow. Grizzly Bear, Black Bear, and Brown Bear blend in amazingly into the woods.
Oh some are easier to spot like the Panda Bear, but that is okay.
Sun Bear, Spectacled Bear, and Sloth Bear exist I wonder how they adapted.
Bears are actually more closely related to seals and dogs than most people realize through ancient shared ancestry— but they went a very different direction and lost the dog roots.
Proof Humans runaway and we are man's best friend. Winnie however regained her dog title, kids on back prove that to me. Yep, Winnie was mislabled bear. Yep, that has to be it. Dogs in disguise like that might fool people. Mom, why are you chuckling?
(No reason. She's a bear kids. Not saying a word though.)
Bear's have big sniffers and as a result can smell up to 20 times better than most dogs.
I am sure its only about nose size. They clock their noses as being seven times better than a bloodhound, which is already the gold standard of noses. But lets see a bear go hunt for lost kids with it. No sense of duty. Thus not a dog. Their sense of smell is considered the finest of any land animal, but if they aren't helping kids with it that to me means they are missing out on a good thing.
Bears are also extraordinarily intelligent. They have been observed using tools, solving puzzles, and remembering the location of food sources across vast territories for years. A grizzly bear's brain is relatively large for its body size compared to most animals.
Despite their size — grizzly bears can weigh over 700 pounds — they can run up to 35 miles per hour. For comparison the fastest human ever recorded ran about 27. So no, you cannot outrun a bear. Please do not try. DO NOT RUN. Bear Safety Tips are below from the National Park Service.
Throughout history bears have appeared in the folklore and mythology of almost every culture that shared land with them — from Native American traditions where bears represented strength and healing, to Norse mythology where the god Odin was associated with bears, to ancient Rome where bears were considered sacred to the goddess Diana.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: The nose fact is impressive. Almost as impressive as my nose. Almost. But the lack of sniffing kids means the nose would be better for a dog to sport. Just saying nature is sometimes silly.
The Bird Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Birds have wings; therefore, they are not dogs. They are yummy though. Beagles let me know exactly how tasty they are and I have tried a few and agree. For other dogs debating this, beagles are very reliable sources on such matters having flushed out many through the years. Humans hunting them means they are tasty.
But they should flourish and not be overhunted. A world without birds is a world without chicken!
That is something horrible to my stomach. Running out of chicken is a serious matter. And not something I am ever prepared to discuss calmly.
Chickens need proper treatment so they get big and fat. Happy chicken fat chicken happy puppy. Even a chicken deserves a decent home so they get yummier.
Also. Some birds saved soldiers in wars. That is duty and devotion. I respect duty and devotion deeply. They may not be dogs but they understand the mission.
Chewy Approved for wartime service and for being delicious. Both honors stand.
Verdict: Birds must be protected. For all lives matter. Also for the chicken supply that I need because I matter. Both reasons are equally valid for their existence.
(Kids we all eat something in this world. Even plants are alive. Eat what you need to survive.)
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Birds being delicious gained great cartoon representation, and this tastiness is also why they are so difficult to hunt.
Tweety Bird — the small yellow canary from Looney Tunes consistently outwits Sylvester the Cat who doesn't deserve Tweety when the dog next door doesn't sniff him. Birds can be pals that means. We aren't always hunting them.
Woodstock — Snoopy's loyal little bird friend from Peanuts proving yet again just how we are not mortal enemies just because they are tasty. We want big fat old birds not scrawny chicks. Respect is proper.
Daffy Duck and Donald Duck — prove that some birds have attitude problems. Daffy is chaos. Donald has a temper. But everyone has moments, like I hate my hind end being touched. See me don't touch my back and we will be fine.
The Road Runner was fast and awesome. But Wile E. Coyote works for a terrible organization that sends useless gear for his hunting job. If you add in all the failed equipment they may as well have sent him food. Chickens is my recommendation.
Nice juicy chicken. Ariarose used to cry for Wile for he was starving and kept asking why won't you just feed him something.
I agree allowing an animal to starve when they are inept and feeding themselves was not very responsible of the Acme Company but maybe he bought it. But if he isn't their employee where is he getting the money for purchases? I get the desert is short of chicken farms, but surely that would be money well spent.
Zazu from The Lion King — a responsible bird trying to manage chaos around him. I understand Zazu deeply. Bodyguard work is thankless sometimes Aria won't ever provide me beyond one treat for the work. I want a train bone for it every single time.
(Train Bone Kids.... 100 dog breath or rawhide bones laid down in a row. Imagine that for a yorkie every day? HA HA HA never will happen.)
Iago from Aladdin — a parrot with opinions. Many opinions. Constantly but not always good ones. Very self interested, but we all tend to be at times.
Birds
WAR HEROES OF THE SKY
Birds have done tons of amazing things. Lets talk about CHER AMI — World War I Hero
Cher Ami means Dear Friend in French and he and I would have been buddies as he served the United States Army Signal Corps during World War I. In October 1918 during the Battle of the Argonne, 554 American soldiers were trapped behind enemy lines. They were being accidentally shelled by their own forces and running out of food but had to get word out. They sent two pigeons with messages. Both were shot down trying to send word. We are friends. Cher Ami was their last hope.
The Germans watched him rise out of the brush and opened fire. Shot through the breast, lost a leg, blind in one eye, but he kept flying.
He flew 25 miles in 25 minutes and delivered the message. The shelling stopped. 194 soldiers walked out of that forest alive because of one bird who refused to stop. But imagine how awful it was to lose 360 troops because they failed to communicate.
Birds are amazing communicators, and with a series of chirps, they not only save their lives but other woodland creatures. They are our eyes in the sky another reason dogs respect them even if they are still tasty and I won't stop eating chicken.
(Aria sniggered. Why you eat beef yourself? She says nothing, nothing Chewy.)
The French Croix de Guerre medal for heroic service was awarded to Cher Ami and he was inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931.
He was put on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.
General John Pershing stated: "There isn't anything the United States can do that is too much for this bird."
G.I. JOE — World War II Hero
In October 1943 in Italy, the Allied forces liberated the village of Calvi Vecchia far ahead of schedule. British troops were already inside the town. But Allied bombers did not know this and were preparing to bomb it with no need.
Radio communications failed. There was no way to call off the attack except for one brave bird. G.I. Joe, no kids not the little green soldiers, but a bird.
After being released, he flew 20 miles in 20 minutes and reached Allied lines just as the bombers were preparing to take off. The attack was called off
100 Allied soldiers and countless Kids, Moms, Dads, grandparents, and so so many civilians it was a huge save.
G.I. Joe was awarded the Dickin Medal — the highest honor given to animals in military service, considered the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross — at a ceremony at the Tower of London in 1946.
He was the First non-British citizen of the medal. He lived to the age of 18 and is now on display at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center.
The Dickin Medal was established in 1943 specifically to honor animals displaying gallantry and devotion to duty in military service. 32 pigeons received it.
Sir Chewy's Note: They understood the mission. They did their duty. They deserve to be remembered. All lives matter — and these particular lives saved many others. I salute them.
Some call animals residents, and that to me is wrong; we are citizens, not just residents, and deserve proper respect.
Historical Facts
There are approximately 10,000 known species of birds on Earth, making them the most diverse class of land vertebrates alive today. They exist on every continent, including Antarctica.
Their roots are traced back to theropod dinosaurs like the velociraptor ROAR! Really big dinosaurs.
That means a pigeon is like looking at a dinosaur.
Pretty neat huh!
And we were just a bit ago highlighting carrier pigeons of old. But they started the noble flights since at least the 8th century BC, when ancient Greeks. Sometimes, it was not war news, but even good messages needed to be delivered.
We didn't use to have internet; they sent many messages, and communication moves us closer together.
In the 8th Century they used them to send news of Olympic champions. Imagine how exciting it was to hear my nation won!
Julius Caesar empire was vast, and other methods were much slower. They were still being used in active military service as recently as World War II with a 95% message delivery success rate even under enemy fire.
The Rooster holds a special place in world culture as the keeper of the dawn. Farmers woke up to them starting their day and some farms use them still for this purpose.
In Chinese tradition, the Rooster zodiac sign represents confidence, reliability, and hard work. And all those flights prove just how reliable they are.
In ancient Greece, the rooster was sacred to the gods Apollo and Asclepius. In France the rooster is a national symbol. In many cultures a crowing rooster at dawn represents new beginnings and the call to face the day.
Birds also play a critical role in every ecosystem on earth — pollinating plants, spreading seeds, controlling insect populations, and serving as indicators of environmental health. When bird populations decline, it signals serious problems in the broader ecosystem. Protecting birds protects everyone. Not a single thing can afford to be lost.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: Chicken, to me is the most important of all birds and need the best of care and treatment to be nice and fat. This cannot be said enough, chicken is one of the best meats.
The Cat Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
I don't wanna do to add them! I don't wanna! I hate cats.
(It was the deal Chewy for this big beautiful page with animals.)
Every Volunteer Gets a Page.
(All lives matter and you agreed to add them.)
Fine, I am a dog of my word.
Cats exist. They are not dogs. They are self-interested layabouts who weren't smart enough to work mills and thus I was created. They do not flush birds for you and will eat it all gone without respect of age.
They do not guard the house but will scratch up the furniture unless given countless posts. They do not fetch unless there is something in it for them. They will look at you throwing the ball and then look back at you as if you are the problem. If they give you attention its because they want it.
I have been informed that cats have done some genuinely impressive things throughout history, and I will report them fairly.
I do not have to like it.
Verdict: Cats are Cats. All lives matter. Even theirs. I said what I said. Hummm....m Mom what good is a cat?
(Lots of folks love them. Me included. I love all animals, every single one of them. Even, well, a few that scare me a bit. Like spiders.... they scare me. Because some are poisonous, and I wouldn't know by looks if they were harmless or dangerous. Same with snakes.
But one should back away and let wild things be wild. Not that I want insects in my house. Insects get in, get I'm not taking the intrusion. Your house is your house. Come in at your peril.
This is why I have a sonic insect repellent. I don't want to kill them as all lives matter even pests, but they are not good for my house.
Stay outside and we are fine. Though spiders creep me a bit, admittedly, and snakes and frogs...I don't want to touch them. Loving all things doesn't mean always .... well. I am still working some things out. Hygiene requires the occasional sacrifice.)
Ha Mom has her priorities straight. Mouse beware I'll hunt you for entering my turf and be rewarded for my great hunting skills. People appreciate my skills.
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
There are a lot of cartoon cats. A LOT. This tells me that humans find them entertaining, and I will accept this information without further comment.
Garfield — a large orange cat who hates Mondays, loves lasagna, and does nothing.
He gorges on plates and this I respect. Him and I have some things in common but his treatment of Odie makes it hard for me to have common ground. He claims Odie is simply just stupid. It is a rare thing a dog that isn't smart. Never met one but I guess it might be possible.
His story went first into newspapers and has been running since 1978. A billion dollars a year in merchandise continues, and so I must decide why.
Hum his creator said Garfield is basically a human in a cat suit. This explains everything actually. Okay he is just a human.... Odie might be dumb, but that means Garfield is possibly a bad human we will have to figure that out ourselves.
Tom from Tom and Jerry — a cat who matches Odie's level of intelligence, if you ask me. That is if he is truly in need of Garfield's type of help.
Maybe Garfield needs help to understand Odie. Communication between dogs and humans isn't always clear.
Anyway, Tom spent his entire career mostly chasing a mouse named Jerry with no success, making him the worse ratter by even cat standards.
A dog would have caught Jerry in episode one, and we could all go home. Just saying, but hey, sometimes I also root for the mouse. Not sure why I guess it's because I am a little guy and the dog does help him. I am sure that is another reason.
Sylvester — also proves another cat debacle in trying to go after things far superior in intelligence, Tweety Bird.
But Sylvester does have a stutter, and that is cool. It comes out with his "sufferin' succotash" and lets me begrudgingly grant him a small tolerance. But I know most stutters are vastly intelligent, and this to me is also annoying.
Both Tom and Sylvester have persistence. This I respect even in a cat. I went after a skunk 15 times, got hit in the face twice,and kept the pursuit nice and hot, but on the third, it was stinging too much for that days fight. The skunk, though, never returned. Jerry never left.
Felix the Cat — one of the oldest cartoon cats, created in 1919 during the silent film era. He had a magic bag of tricks that could change into anything. He predates most of everything. I will give credit where it is due.
(Aria's note to kids: Chewy is of course looking at this from the side of his state of mind. When we look at people, sometimes our preconceptions cloud us to what is in front of us.
Garfield's mistreatment to me was always wrong and made him unfunny when he did it, but I guess I may be a minority in that opinion. And sometimes I am wrong. I misunderstand people at times. But instead of assuming I know for sure, I ask and communicate. I can't know what I am untold. Communication is key because if we never talk to others, we never clear our misconceptions.)
Cats
Famous Cats
Cats who did ... good. A dog do better.
(Chewy that assumption is speciesist. Everyone has a place in this world.)
Hum yeah. They did stuff good. [Just because dogs do it better doesn't make me a speciesist.]
(Chewy it's like the struggle between boys and girls. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, but no one is fully 'better' at everything over everyone.
We need each other. I don't have the hand strength to open all the jars.
My husband does and there is nothing wrong with giving it to him or get out the can opener. And saying thank you. I can appreciate that in general men have stronger physical prowess. But I can name lots of women arm wrestlers that out jar him.
We can go around and around. And, yes I can get it done with an assistive device, but he does that better. He does other things better too, and it doesn't hurt me or make me less of a woman to lean on him. Its not necessarily because he is a man I am leaning too. I lean because he and I love each other.
There is a balance to things and the results are actually more individualized no matter how many bell curves you swing. I can lean on him and he leans on me and we move forward and that is a beautiful thing. Those cats did good.)
I said they did stuff but a dog do it better.
(Sometimes, changing things inside takes time. Not saying it's right or easy his feelings towards cats and belief he is better, but change in ourselves this engrained can take lots of communication.
Dogs have a lot of pride and sometimes pride is a good thing. Pride in a job well done, doesn't mean I don't tell another they did great work too. I don't need glory. I only need to do my personal best.)
UNSINKABLE SAM
This cat survived three shipwrecks during World War II. Three. He started on a German battleship called the Bismarck which was sunk. He was rescued by the British. He then served on two more British ships. Both were also sunk. Sam survived all of them. They found him each time floating on wreckage described as angry but unharmed.
I do get that. I don't do wet, but one must survive. He was working killing rats. I'd kill more. No rodent left alive.
(CHEWY)
What did I say?
(Do you have his rat killing record or now how to navigate a ship? Are you sure you'd be steady on your feet on a boat?)
Humm...m maybe I might have not done as good..... until trained.
(Sometimes, when presented with someone who does something better folks make excuses as to why they would do it better. To me I'd be asking them tips on personal ways to improve and never assume I'd best them. I just want to do my best and that is enough for me.)
TAMA — STATIONMASTER OF KISHI STATION
In Japan there was a struggling railway station that was about to close due to financial difficulties. In 2007 a stray calico cat named Tama was appointed official stationmaster. Her job was to greet passengers and look distinguished. She wore a tiny stationmaster's hat.
Her presence brought approximately 1.1 billion yen to the local economy. The station was saved. She was later given the title of Honorary Eternal Stationmaster.
I do not fully understand how a cat saved a railway, but the numbers say she did. The numbers are correct. Tama passed away in 2015 and a shrine was built in her honor. A successor named Nitama carries on the tradition. A cute dog would have saved it faster, but she was cute for a cat.
(Aria's note: Sometimes, people will hold their pride. Get scared, and then find a reason why that one is an exception or why they, with other circumstances, would do better. Dismissal isn't right, but even a pause to think helps start the wheel and you hope they start going down a different track.)
HISTORICAL FACT
Cats were worshipped in Ancient Egypt. The goddess Bastet was depicted as a cat and represented protection, fertility, and motherhood.
Killing a cat in Ancient Egypt — even accidentally — was punishable by death. Households would shave their eyebrows in mourning when a family cat passed away.
Civilizations have also worshiped dogs. Norse, Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Aztec, and Chinese have us in their folklore. The Chinese didn't see a cat as worth being in the zodiac so there.
(Chewy did you not read why the cat missed dinner?)
No and won't ever. They were excluded as that emperor was a man of sense.
Cats domesticated themselves. They moved in when they realized humans had grain that attracted mice. They have been conducting this arrangement on their own terms ever since. A dog chose the human. A cat chose the pantry. I am not judging. I am simply noting the distinction.
The Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office is an official title held by the resident cat of 10 Downing Street, the home of the British Prime Minister. This position has existed since 1515 when Cardinal Wolsey placed his cat by his side in his judicial duties. The current holder is Larry, who has served multiple Prime Ministers.
Nikola Tesla's childhood cat Mačak may have been partly responsible for the invention of modern electricity. Tesla wrote that petting Mačak's fur at night produced sparks and sheets of light that he could not explain. His fascination with that phenomenon stayed with him his entire life.
The cat's fur stood up what is the big deal. So does a dogs. Inspiration does count to me. I am a busy writing partner.
Cats have been on Earth alongside humans for approximately 10,000 years and are now the most popular pet in the world by number with an estimated 600 million domestic cats worldwide.
This is because people have thought to train them to use litter boxes, and that makes it easier then taking a dog on a patrol of neighborhoods. Train us that way, and we can use them, but honestly that is rather nasty, a box forever in the corner and dangerous for pregnant women to touch.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: Good this one is over with. I can go back to hating them, but Garfield and I are talking things out, but Garfield is a human in a catsuit.
(Change takes time. It is not easy when you are an enemy for years to look past it. But Chewy I love you anyway. But I hope someday you'll accept all creatures and understand what it means.)
Mom you don't like reptiles or frogs.
(Touching them gives me a bit of a rash. This is why primarily I dislike touching them. But if I must touch one as it will accept help I would.)
The Cheetah Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Finally. FINALLY. An animal I have been waiting to discuss.
Cheetahs. Fast. Spotted. Magnificent. I bark at them on television to say hello and they look back and I KNOW they understand me as they are dogs. I have evidence.
(What evidence?)
Semi-retractible claws. Big fast spotty dogs. And no one can tell me different. I have determined they are dogs.
(Kids they are members of the Cat Family.)
Famous Cartoon/Fantasy
Chester Cheetah — the mascot for Cheetos snacks, introduced in 1986. He wears sunglasses and is hip. You ever see a cat move on his hind feet. No right. Point DOG Yo.
He is cool. He says "It ain't easy bein' cheesy." He is a cheetah who appreciates snacks and I respect this deeply. Chester and I have the same priorities. This further confirms my theory.
I love cheese. Mom get me some cheetos I want to try them.
(Ah, no, you have congenital heart failure and are on a diet. I am not even sure a dog can eat them anyway.)
I hate it so much too. They want my mom.... to give me kibble as a reward. She does that I might just quit being a good boy and going outside in the rain. I hate wet! Give me a good treat or I will go on strike.
Cheetah
FAMOUS REAL
Cheetahs have lived alongside humans for over 5,000 years. Ancient Egyptians, Sumerians, and Assyrians kept them as companions. Famous rulers like Genghis Khan kept them. The Emperor Akbar the Great of India reportedly kept 6,000 cheetahs.
6,000.
I think the Egyptians were confused and thought they had a cat was generating protection for cats that should have went to dogs. I established they were dog based on my perfect knowledge of Chester Cheetah and retractable claws.
6,000 ... that is a dog army. Emperors kept dog armies. This is historical proof.
The most famous cheetah in modern conservation history is a female named Sita, documented extensively by wildlife photographer and filmmaker Kim Wolhuter in the Maasai Mara. Her story helped bring international attention to cheetah conservation and the threats these magnificent animals face.
Another point of proof that a cheetah is a dog is they use their tails like a rudder. Dogs do this as well and cats do not. They use it as pure counterbalance.
(Chewy where did you get this fact?)
On the internet, and that is perfectly reliable.
Kids, I have conflicting information if they do not use their tails to change direction, which is what they mean when a cheetah uses their tail like a rudder. And that is the thing when someone is 'certain' of something from prejudice or set beliefs. He is making a case that Cheetahs are dogs.
Don't you think he'd latch onto that first? How much did he cross-check? When a person is a scientist, they do an experiment multiple times to make sure the result is consistent. But sometimes when they make a hypothesis and get the expected answer some leave that as 'proof.'
The research he found on a general search of cats using their tails. TEACHERS' PROJECT!!!!
Is Chewy right? I'd ask a person, like maybe someone who works with cats, if its something for counter balance and also for adjusting during flip or when on ground they use it to push direction towards somewhere. Fact checkers someday but get you want to research books.)
HISTORICAL FACT
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on Earth, reaching speeds of 70 to 75 miles per hour in short bursts. They can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in just three seconds. That is faster than most cars.
Their spine acts like a spring. Their tail acts like a rudder for sharp turns. Each stride covers up to 25 feet. While sprinting they spend more time in the air than on the ground.
Now here is the part where I need everyone to stop and pay attention.
THEY ARE MISLABELED. THEY ARE MISLABELED DOGS AND I HAVE PROOF OF SEMI-RETRACTABLE CLAWS like dogs. TAILS USED TO TURN.
And now lets add cheetahs cannot roar like lions or leopards. They chirp. They purr. They chuff. These are dog sounds. Dogs make these sounds. More proof. My case is airtight.
Cheetahs are unfortunately racing toward extinction. Their population has dropped dramatically due to habitat loss, human conflict, and a severe genetic bottleneck that occurred roughly 10,000 years ago when nearly the entire species was wiped out. Today fewer than 7,000 remain in the wild.
This must not happen. Every life matters. Every species matters. If cheetahs disappear the world loses something that can never be replaced. The fastest creature on land. Gone. Because of habitat we took and because humans sometimes fear what they do not understand.
Cheetahs deserve protection. All creatures deserve protection.
(Even cats?)
...I said what I said all lives matter but don't expect me to cuddle up with a cat anytime soon.
(Fair enough.)
Sir Chewy's Addendum: I rest my case of why scientists need to think again. They keep changing their mind on Pluto's planet status so they can be wrong again. Mom I want to help them out can you write a book.
(I'll add it to my project list.)
Score.
(I only have 50 plus so what is one more. HA HA HA)
The Dolphin Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Dolphins are dog cousins who manage the waterways for all of us dogs. We needed a water force as dogs don't generally do wet. For sure the length of water demands extra forse.
Land patrol is ours. Water patrol is theirs. This is a perfectly organized joint operation, and I am very proud of our cousins.
They do wet so we don't have to. This is the arrangement. It works for everyone.
Chewy Approved. Highest honor. Naval Division.
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Flipper — the most famous dolphin in television history. A bottlenose dolphin who helped a family and their ranger father solve problems and rescue people in distress. Flipper worked alongside humans to protect others. This is exactly what dogs do. Cousin behavior confirmed.
Flipper first appeared in a 1963 film and then had his own television series. He communicated with the family, helped in emergencies, and was loyal above all else. If Flipper had fur and did not do wet he would be a dog. The evidence is overwhelming.
Also worth noting — Ecco the Dolphin, a beloved video game dolphin from 1992 who traveled through time and space to save his pod. Dedication to family and mission. Very dog of him.
Dolphins
FAMOUS REAL — THE NAVAL DIVISION
Kids. The United States Navy has dolphins.
Real dolphins. In the actual Navy. Since 1960.
They detect underwater mines, boats, lost objects, and even guard harbors. They served in the Vietnam War and Gulf Wars, saving countless lives.
AND — I need everyone to hear this clearly —
The Navy trains dolphins EXACTLY like they train police dogs and hunting dogs.
(Chewy are you happy now?)
Proving mislabled dogs and dog cousins is important. And I never make things up. I have information.
(I know.)
A dolphin named KDog served in the Persian Gulf during the Iraq War performing mine clearance operations. KDog because they got it he was a dog cousin and if KDog doesn't mean dog it be so mean.
There are ethical concerns about keeping dolphins in military service away from the wild and this is worth knowing. All lives matter and that includes the lives of our naval cousins. The debate about whether animals should serve in military roles is an important one and deserves honest discussion.
HISTORICAL FACT
Dolphins are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. Marine biologists believe they are the second smartest species after humans. They live in pods of 2 to 30 individuals, take care of their sick and injured, and communicate with complex clicks and sounds.
Their echolocation — a biological sonar system — allows them to detect objects buried under two feet of mud, distinguish between different metals, and navigate in complete darkness. No human technology has fully replicated what a dolphin can do naturally with its own biology.
Dolphins have been part of human mythology and culture for thousands of years. Ancient Greeks considered dolphins sacred to the god Apollo. The Maori people of New Zealand consider whales and dolphins to be guides for sailors. Stories of dolphins rescuing drowning humans appear in cultures all around the world and there are documented modern cases of dolphins guiding swimmers to safety.
Dolphins are not fish. They are mammals. They breathe air, nurse their young with milk, and are warm blooded. They simply chose to live in the water which as established is the arrangement that works for everyone.
There are about 40 known species of dolphin living in oceans and rivers around the world. The bottlenose dolphin is the most well known and the species most often studied by scientists and trained by the Navy.
Dolphins are currently threatened by pollution, fishing nets, habitat loss, and climate change affecting their food supplies. Protecting oceans protects dolphins. Protecting dolphins protects the whole ocean ecosystem.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: KDog. They named him KDog. I will never get over this. Our cousins serve with honor. All lives matter including our naval division. I am very proud.
Dogs was moved to the bottom of the page.
Chewy, Bodyguard and Wearer of Many Hats, Declared we need the most roaming room so we are at the bottom of the page.
The Elephant Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Elephants are enormous. Squash a yorkie like a pancake and keep on going. SO avoid their feet.
They have a trunk, which immediate disqualifies them. I have never heard of a dog having a trunk. Except for 'swimming' trunks on occasion as someone dresses up for Halloween.
Mom and me love being the princess and her dragon each year and not the mermaid and her dolphin.
(Hummm.... mermaid and a dolphin—that could be adorable).
Ah don't, I prefer being a dragon.
Elephants are also not always friendly with dogs which I find personally disappointing as I had hoped for better.
However, I must note something important. Elephants have an extraordinary memory. Dogs experiment constantly. We test things. We try again. We find new ways. Just like kids, we want to test boundaries.
An elephant tied to a tiny post as a baby learns it cannot escape. It grows into a massive creature that could uproot a tree. And it stays. Because it learned it couldn't leave.
This is very sad to me.
A dog would have kept trying. That is the difference. But the elephant did not choose this. It was taught it. That is not the elephant's fault. That is what was done to it but I wonder what happens if they ever get scared and the post falls over.... Ever hear of an elephant stampede? They didn't just remember being tied to the tree I have a feeling.
Verdict: Elephants are: Magnificent. Ancient. Worthy of deep respect. Not dogs. But the lesson of the rope is one every living creature should know.
(Kids this is also true for people. Sometimes we learn we cannot do something so young that we stop trying even when we absolutely could. Do not be the elephant at the post. Keep trying. But there are some lessons best remembered and this is an advantage we have.
We can choose both ways. Some things are best not done again. Like street drugs. I never experimented and don't need to do so to learn they are bad for me. Not that I hate those that fall to it. No sometimes we do bad things and regret it. Kids just don't let drugs be an experiment you regret.)
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Dumbo — a baby elephant born with enormous ears who is mocked and separated from his mother. He discovers he can fly. His ears that made him different were actually his greatest gift all along.
Every single person is different. We are so unique and awesome for that. Each gift we have inside is something worth treasuring. A baby separated from its mother is not funny to me. Mocking someone for being different is wrong.
But the story does the right thing in the end. What makes you different can be what makes you extraordinary? Do not let anyone convince you otherwise.
Horton — from Dr. Seuss. Horton hears the tiny voices of the Whos living on a speck of dust and refuses to abandon them even when everyone laughs at him. His famous line is "a person's a person no matter how small."
Horton understood All Lives Matter before it was a saying. He endured ridicule and kept going. That is character. To know something that I find fundamental is great.
(Chewy are you now embracing cats.)
....
....
....
Their lives....matter. Don't expect me to cuddle them. You cuddle up with a tarantula first.
(.... .... .... Fair although.... a tarantula will kill me, but a house cat won't kill you.)
It will still be a fight and I have another famous Elephant to report..
Babar — an elephant who loses his mother, travels to a city, learns human ways, and returns to become a wise and fair king of the elephants. Leadership through loss and learning. A good story. Still sad though, losing a mother is terrible. I miss my Dog Mom sometimes.
(I know love. I know. Even if you never say it.)
You don't think I love you less.
(Not at all. Those who are adopted have their rights to such feelings and it never belittles the love received from the bonus set.)
I'm glad you understand.
Elephants
FAMOUS REAL
Jumbo — the most famous elephant in history. Born in Africa around 1861, captured and sold to a zoo in Paris, then London Zoo, then purchased by P.T. Barnum for his circus in 1882. Jumbo was so beloved and so enormous that his name became the word we use for anything very large. Jumbo sized. That came from one elephant.
(But what of Supersize? I was sure it replaced Jumbo.)
Whoever did it was crazy. Jumbo is better than super.
When Barnum announced he was taking Jumbo to America the public outrage in England was extraordinary. He was that loved but it spread his joy to two worlds.
Jumbo died in 1885 after being struck by a freight train. He was 24 years old. The world mourned.
He also reportedly pushed a younger elephant out of the path of the train before impact. Even at the end he was looking after others.
(Aria's note: There is some historical debate about the details of Jumbo's final moments. This is a good reminder that even famous stories can have conflicting accounts and it is always worth checking multiple sources. But something in my heart believes even if he didn't succeed he would have tried. Those who love young and small things, protect and love small things.)
HISTORICAL FACT
Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. African elephants can weigh up to 14,000 pounds and stand 13 feet tall. They live 60 to 70 years in the wild — longer than most animals.
They have the largest brains of any land animal and their memory is extraordinary.
Elephants recognize individual humans and other elephants after many years apart. But as noted sometimes a memory that great comes with a level of vulnerability.
They mourn their dead, returning to the bones of lost family members and touching them gently with their trunks. They grieve and can be affected for a long time. Why they struggle to move on?
A perfect memory is often more curse than gift. Oh it sounds so great, but it isn't. Every argument with Mom, every fight with dad. Every time you were teased. But also the gift of Every hug and cuddle. But some 'perfect' memories apply to one thing alone. It is a burden as forgetting can make things a little less painful.
Elephants communicate through sounds humans cannot hear — low frequency rumbles that travel through the ground for miles, felt through the sensitive skin of their feet. They have entire conversations we cannot perceive.
Elephants are also deeply social creatures who live in herds led by the oldest female — the matriarch. Her experience and memory guide the whole family. Wisdom earned over decades matters. Elders matter.
They are currently endangered due to ivory poaching and habitat loss. African forest elephants are critically endangered. These ancient creatures who grieve and remember and communicate in ways we are only beginning to understand are disappearing.
OH MOM!!!!!
(Yes, Chewy.)
We need to help save elephants.
(On the list of projects. We are somewhere of past 50.... so what is one more? And learned helplessness is something to address. For sure, it is also on deck.)
The Goat Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Rams kick. They butt heads with those horns. Locked together I imagine the conversation goes something like this:
You hooked my horn.
No you hooked mine.
Let me go you stubborn billy goat.
Nah you let go you stubborn goat.
This is undoglike behavior. A dog would simply have won the argument and moved on. The horns are also a disqualifier. No dog has horns. Not even the ones with attitude.
Verdict: Goats are Goats. Stubborn. Determined. Surprisingly clever. Not dogs. But I respect the stubbornness even if the horn situation concerns me.
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
The Three Billy Goats Gruff — a Norwegian fairy tale about three brother goats who must cross a bridge to reach better grass. A troll lives under the bridge and threatens to eat them. Each goat tricks the troll into waiting for the next larger goat. The biggest goat finally crosses and throws the troll into the river with his horns.
This is clever. Three goats outsmarted a troll through teamwork and patience. I can respect this. The horns were useful in the end though I maintain this is not doglike behavior.
The moral is clear — work together, be patient, and the biggest problem gets solved when the time is right and sometimes it is okay to rely on our bigger goat.
Goats
FAMOUS REAL
Murphy the Goat and the Billy Goat Curse.
In 1945 a man named William Sianis — known as Billy Goat — owned a tavern in Chicago and was a devoted Cubs fan. He bought two tickets to the World Series. One for himself. One for his pet goat Murphy.
They were turned away at the gate. The owner said the goat stinks.
Billy Goat raised his arms and declared — the Cubs will never win a World Series so long as the goat is not allowed in Wrigley Field.
The Cubs lost that series.
Then they lost. And lost. And lost. For 71 years the Chicago Cubs did not win a World Series. Players came and went. Generations of fans grew old waiting. The goat was gone but the curse held.
In 2016 the Cubs finally won again. Sam Sianis — Billy Goat's nephew — brought a goat to the field and rang a bell that had once been worn by Murphy. The Cubs won in extra innings in Game 7.
One goat. One moment of disrespect. Seventy one years.
I find this extremely impressive and also a little terrifying.
(Curses.... curses.... so long for a curse.... was it a curse or just superstition? Whatever you believe, this story is among the many tales of crazy events in baseball and Chicago history. But hey all lives matter.... he had a ticket. Even if he was refusing a paying customer his seat, didn't mean he needed to be SOO>>>> Rude about it. But you know so many people have been mistreated for all sorts of reasons. Kindness matters to all things at all times.
My local team has a dog day. Chewy loves to go too and say we're here. We're here. Now, where are the hot dogs?)
HISTORICAL FACT
Goats are among the oldest domesticated animals on Earth. Humans have kept goats for approximately 10,000 years — for milk, meat, fiber, and companionship. They were among the first animals humans ever brought into their homes and communities.
There are over 300 distinct breeds of domestic goat worldwide. They are extraordinarily adaptable and can survive in climates and terrains that would defeat most other animals — from Arctic cold to desert heat to steep mountain cliffs.
Studies have shown that goats have a similar level of intelligence to dogs. They can be trained to perform tasks, solve puzzles, and communicate with humans using their eyes and expressions in ways previously only observed in dogs. They even follow human pointing gestures — a skill considered a sign of significant social intelligence.
(Chewy what do you say to that?)
They are not dogs. They are very smart goats. This is different. But they are for sure a cousin. Good to see our intelligence rubs off on cousins. But they need to watch the horns.
Mom, I don't think the goats have gotten themselves unlocked yet?
(I know it can go on a long time.)
Goats were historically associated with the god Pan in Greek mythology—half man, half goat—representing nature, wildness, music, and the untamed world. In many cultures, goats represented abundance and the connection between the domestic and the wild.
Their reputation for stubbornness is well earned but also somewhat unfair. Goats are actually highly cautious animals who prefer to investigate before committing. What looks like stubbornness is often careful assessment of risk. They do not do things they have not decided are safe. This is not stupidity. This is wisdom wearing a stubborn face.
Rams are also a zodiac sign for Aries. People of the ram are bold energetic, determined, and natural leaders. After all they are just made for charging and butting heads. But to the Chinese Goats, in the 8th year, are gentle, calm, creative, and kind. Thoughtful and empathetic, good at arts and deeply sensitive and preferring peace over conflict.
(Maybe that distinction is the difference between Goats and Rams.)
Sir Chewy's Addendum: The horns remain locked. I wonder if they will be locked for 71 years. HA HA HA.
The Horse Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Horses are tall dogs who mostly prefer roaming free like all dogs but a good house is worth considering.
They are loyal. They bond deeply with their humans. They run when called and come back when whistled. These are dog behaviors in a very large body.
The main difference is the size. A horse would squash me like a pancake even faster than an elephant. So I maintain my admiration from a respectful distance.
Verdict: Horses are very tall dogs who have not yet fully committed to the indoor lifestyle. I respect their freedom but also believe a warm house with good treats has much to offer. They are welcome to reconsider anytime.
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Mister Ed — a talking palomino horse from the 1960s television show of the same name. He was witty and opinionated and only spoke to his owner Wilbur. He offered wisdom and sorted out the problems of the humans around him.
This is extremely dog behavior. Talking only to your chosen person. Having opinions. Solving problems. Eating well and living comfortably. Mr. Ed understood the assignment.
He was played by a horse named Bamboo Harvester. What horse harvest bamboo though when living in America? Seems off, but hey I'm Chewy. What did I do to get that?
(Chewy my sweetie you look like Chewbacca when your hair grows out all thick and curly. So Cute.)
I can live with that.
Spirit — the wild mustang from the DreamWorks film who refused to be broken and ran free across the plains. A magnificent horse. Very dog in spirit if not in practice. Some dogs also refuse to be broken. I understand this personally. If you want me to do something I expect proper compensation. Hugs and kisses are free, but not having a private indoor bath demands daily compensation.
Silver — the Lone Ranger's famous white horse. Hi-yo Silver! A horse so magnificent he got his own battle cry. Very dog behavior to have a catchphrase associated with your arrival Mom get me a catchphrase...
(Working for Bare Bones?)
Yep every day.
Black Beauty — from Anna Sewell's 1877 novel. A black horse who narrates his own life story through mistreatment and kindness and everything in between.
Black Beauty's story helped change how people treated horses and animals in general. A book that saved lives. Written from a horse's perspective. I find this deeply moving.
Sometimes, it takes someone showing us the painful things to understand and change.
Shadowfax — Gandalf's horse in Lord of the Rings. The fastest horse that ever lived. He could not be tamed by anyone except Gandalf and he ran like the wind itself. He understood speech and chose his rider. That is dog behavior. Choosing your person. Shadowfax chose well.
But I think he wasn't broken at all. No Gandalf respected the wild things and so Shadowfax obliged. I oblige when it suits me. It's nice to have someone clean the hooves, I bet.
Bullseye — Woody's horse in Toy Story. Behaves EXACTLY like a dog. Runs to greet people. Wags his tail. Plays fetch. Follows Woody everywhere with complete devotion.
Bullseye is a dog more so than some dogs I know.
Now. Pegasus. A horse with wings. I am not sure what to make of this. Wings are not a dog feature. No dog has wings. Although if I had wings I would use them to patrol more territory and I think about this sometimes.
(Chewy, you are getting distracted.)
The point is Pegasus is a horse with wings and that puts him in a complicated category. Impressive. Suspicious. Possibly still a dog. Investigation ongoing.
(Now what do you think of Unicorns?)
There are TWO OF THEM!!! Weirdos both disqualified. Maybe, they can reapply when they stop joining with birds and whatever caused the corn.
(Don't you mean horn?)
He's a unicorn not a unihorn. Weird. Why would it be a horn up there?
(Sometimes, you never know what to say to a statement like that.)
Horse
FAMOUS REAL
SEABISCUIT
Seabiscuit was an undersized racehorse nobody believed in. He lost his first 17 races. His trainers called him lazy. He was nearly given away. He weighed 200 pounds less than he should. He was considered broken.
Then a new trainer named Tom Smith saw something nobody else saw. He gave Seabiscuit good hay. He let him sleep late. He gave him companions to make him feel safe.
One of those companions was a stray dog named Pocatell.
POCATELL. A STRAY DOG. WAS HIS BEST FRIEND.
(Everyone needs a good companion.)
THIS IS PROOF HORSES ARE TALL DOGS. THEY CHOOSE US. THEY ALWAYS CHOOSE US.
With Pocatell by his side Seabiscuit transformed. He won 33 of 89 races and became the top money-winning racehorse of his era. In 1938 during the Great Depression — when millions of Americans had nothing — one out of every three Americans tuned their radios to hear Seabiscuit race. He gave people hope when hope was scarce.
The undersized overlooked horse that nobody believed in became the symbol of an entire nation's determination to keep going.
(Sometimes, when things are hard, and the small guy rises up that is a big moment.)
Yep, and Yorkies are for sure the small guy and we are rocking it.
HISTORICAL FACT
Horses have been companions to humans for approximately 6,000 years. They have carried us into battle, plowed our fields, delivered our mail, pulled our carriages, and carried our children. Virtually every civilization on Earth has been shaped by the horse.
The bond between horse and human is among the deepest in the animal kingdom. Horses read human emotions, respond to tone of voice, and form lasting attachments to specific people. Studies have shown horses can recognize human facial expressions and remember people they have not seen for years.
In Chinese tradition the Horse is the 7th sign of the zodiac. People born in the Year of the Horse are said to be energetic, independent, warm-hearted, and free spirited. They love travel and adventure and dislike being confined.
This is tall dog behavior. Confirmed by an ancient civilization.
Horses communicate through body language, ear position, tail movement, and vocalizations. A horse's ears pointed forward means alert and interested. Ears flattened back means warning. A soft nicker means contentment or greeting. They are constantly talking. Most people just do not know how to listen.
Dogs know how to listen. This is why we are their best friends.
(Hum...tall dogs friends with dogs. If they are all just dogs...)
Mom do you think all dog types are friends that is crazy.
There are over 350 breeds of horse worldwide. The Thoroughbred, Arabian, Quarter Horse, and Mustang are among the most celebrated. Wild horses still roam parts of North America, Australia, and Central Asia. They choose freedom but they always come back to the right human.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: Pocatell the stray dog saved Seabiscuit and that partnership gave him the strength to rally hope. And hope matters and with it we can concentrate on All lives mattering. Even the very tall ones.
The Kangaroo Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
The pouch disqualifies them immediately as dogs. No dog has ever had a built-in pocket for their children. We hop yes. We love our young yes. But never forever and we do not carry them around in a pouch indefinitely.
At some point, you hop out and find your own career.
They also punch and kick hard. Dogs do not punch. We bark. We occasionally steal beds. We do not punch.
I understand loving mom deeply and personally. I supervise her bathroom activities out of pure devotion. But there are limits and a growing kangaroo surely exceeds them. At some point, they must get very heavy.
Verdict: Kangaroos are Kangaroos. Unusual. Impressive. Built differently. Not dogs. But I respect a mother who carries her young and a young one who eventually hops out and figures it out.
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Kanga and Roo — from Winnie the Pooh, first appearing in 1926. Kanga is the devoted mother. Roo is her joey who lives in her pouch and joins all the adventures of the Hundred Acre Wood.
I have complicated feelings about Roo still being in that pouch. He goes on expeditions. He plays Poohsticks. He has friends. And yet. The pouch remains available. I understand the comfort of mom but at some point Roo you have to commit to your own two feet.
(Chewy you supervise the bathroom every single day.)
That is professional duty. Completely different.
(I think he's jealous as he probably would love it. Because I sometimes wear overalls... and guess who LOVES being in the 'pouch'.)
What you say mom?
(Nothing nothing. Tomorrow I might wear some overalls and see if I can paint something.)
Good I can hang next to your chest and heartbeat. I love it.
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo — an Australian television series from 1966 to 1969 that became a worldwide phenomenon watched by over 300 million people in 128 countries. Skippy was a female eastern grey kangaroo who lived in a national park and helped solve crimes, rescue people, operate radios, open doors, and generally outsmart everyone around her.
Her famous sound was tchk tchk tchk. Kids around the world believed kangaroos made this sound.
They do not. A human was clicking their tongue the whole time.
Skippy was basically the Australian Lassie. Brave, loyal, and smarter than all the humans combined. I respect this deeply even if she is not a dog.
Kangaroos
FAMOUS REAL
Kangaroos are the national symbol of Australia and appear on the Australian coat of arms alongside the emu. Both animals were chosen for a specific reason — neither can walk backwards. They can only move forward.
I find this philosophically significant.
The most famous real kangaroo is perhaps every kangaroo ever seen by someone who had never been to Australia — because for most of the world's history kangaroos were considered mythical creatures. When European explorers first described them nobody believed them. A creature with a pocket for its babies that hops everywhere? Surely not.
But surely yes. I understand some joeys clinging a bit to mom. It's got height advantage but why would he need that, he's taller than a yorkie.
HISTORICAL FACT
Kangaroos are marsupials — mammals who carry their young in a pouch after birth. A baby kangaroo is called a joey and is born extremely tiny — about the size of a grape — and climbs immediately into its mother's pouch to continue developing. It stays there for approximately six to eight months.
Six to eight months. In a pouch. I will say nothing further about this except... Roo has been in her pouch for YEARS. Sometime GET OUT.
There are four species of kangaroo — the red kangaroo, eastern grey kangaroo, western grey kangaroo, and antilopine kangaroo. The red kangaroo is the largest marsupial on Earth, standing up to six feet tall and weighing up to 200 pounds.
A kangaroo can hop at speeds of up to 44 miles per hour and cover 25 feet in a single bound. They cannot walk backwards. They only move forward. This is on the Australian coat of arms for a reason. What happens if they smack a tree?
(I guess they are smart enough not to walk into a wall.)
Mom are you saying I've run into a wall.
(I said nothing at all about you running into walls.)
Male kangaroos are called bucks or boomers. Females are called does or flyers. A group of kangaroos is called a mob. I would like to point out that dogs have packs and kangaroos have mobs and I think this tells you something about the general energy difference.
Kangaroos are excellent swimmers despite their reputation as hoppers. They use their tail as a fifth limb when moving slowly. When fighting they lean back on their tail and deliver powerful kicks with both hind legs simultaneously.
This is why they are not dogs. Dogs do not fight with their tail as a kickstand. We have more dignity than that. Although it does sound effective.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: Only moves forward. Cannot walk backwards. I respect this more than almost anything else on this page. We should all be kangaroos in this one specific way but Momma be sure and paint tomorrow in overalls. It's like having a hug all day long.
The Lion Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
This conclusion should be obvious to everyone.
Lions are dogs.
Mom why is your eyebrow raised.
(They are big cats. But go ahead tell us why you think they are dogs.)
Someone put their head in a lion's mouth. You only put your head in the mouth of your best friend. Dogs are man's best friend. Therefore lions are dogs.
(Why does this logic make a weird sort of sense...in dog logic.)
Because I am right!!! Ruff. Trying to tell me someone would trust a cat who'd sooner scratch you then say hello.
I watched one on television and barked to say hello. The lion looked back. We understood each other. This is dog behavior. Greeting behavior. Recognizing a fellow dog across species lines.
(Sure sure through the TV he said HELLO)
Yep as he and I are big friends even if science says they are cats and Cheetahs too. Science has been wrong before and will be wrong again. I refer you once more to the big Pluto debates.
(How do you argue that point with a dog bent on claiming lots of nondogs dogs and might make a few bonus pals?)
What nondogs? I claim only dogs.
Verdict: Lions are dogs. Very large, very fluffy, very magnificent dogs who chose to live in Africa instead of houses. I respect the choice even if I find it puzzling. Its a warm bed Africa true, but it looks like you might get sand in the fur.
(Kids they are absolutely cats. The largest of the African big cats. But we are letting Chewy have this one because frankly his logic is entertaining and he is working very hard on this page.)
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Simba — from Disney's The Lion King, 1994. A young lion prince whose father is murdered by his uncle Scar. He flees in guilt and grief, grows up in exile, and eventually returns to reclaim his kingdom.
The story is about responsibility. About running from the past and then choosing to face it. About the difference between who you were told you are and who you actually are. Mufasa tells Simba he must remember who he is. That is the whole lesson in four words.
Remember who you are.
I find this deeply moving. Simba is a dog in every way that matters. He loved his father. He was lost without him. He came home when home needed him.
Aslan — from C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. The great lion who is the true king of Narnia. He gives his life to save another and comes back. His roar ends winter. His breath brings the frozen back to life.
A nice magic dog does that because protecting others at cost to yourself that is the whole job.
The Cowardly Lion — from The Wizard of Oz. A lion who believes he has no courage and travels a long road asking for it. He had it all along. Every brave thing he did on the journey was proof. Bravery doesn't mean you aren't scared. No its about despite that fear rising to the challenge and facing down those who are wrong.
I think about this sometimes. Sometimes we don't know what we are capable of until we are asked to do it. The road shows you. Not the starting line.
Lions
Real Lions
CHRISTIAN THE LION
In 1969 two friends named Ace Bourke and John Rendall walked into Harrods department store in London.
They bought a lion cub and raised him in their Chelsea flat. He was named Christian, but grew too large for a London flat — as lions do.
Sometimes people with large dogs do forget the final size and how much running room big dogs require.
Bonus later homes happen at times but that is hard on everyone. They arranged for him to be returned to Africa to live wild. They said goodbye knowing they would likely never see him again.
A year later they went to Africa to find him.
Christian had been living wild for a year. He was the leader of his own pride. He was a fully grown lion in his natural habitat. There was every reason to expect he would not remember them.
He remembered them.
He ran to them. He put his paws on their shoulders. He nuzzled them. He introduced them to his pride.
If you set something free and they come back like that, you know you are well loved.
NAH it proves DOG Love. CASE CLOSED.
The reunion footage exists on YouTube. Love like that is something so powerful and I challenge anyone with half a heart to watch it without crying. Mom you bawled. Such a softie at times.
(Love is beautiful. Chewy is not wrong that it is extraordinary. He is still wrong that lions are dogs. But the love is real.)
(But get Wild Things Like Big Cats...do not make good pets. They are wild on instinct. It worked for them and that is great. But wild things deserve wild space. There are many versions of this video, but understand when people try to tame wild creatures, it often ends in abuse and neglect and can be fatal.)
HISTORICAL FACT
Lions are the only truly social big 'cats' if science is 'correct' and I am wrong.
All other big cats live and hunt alone. Lions live in groups called prides — with females doing most of the hunting and males defending the territory. Which is why we know they are DOGS. Dogs are pack animals.
A male lion's roar can be heard up to five miles away. It is used to communicate location, warn rivals, and call to their pride. It is the loudest vocalization of any land predator.
I would like a roar. Mine is more of a bark. It carries less but it is enthusiastic. But when I open up my mouth LION like huge when adjusted to relative to size body of Yorkie Package.
Lions are known as the King of the Jungle despite actually living in grasslands and savannas rather than jungles. The title stuck anyway. Reputation matters more than geography sometimes.
In Chinese tradition the Lion is not part of the zodiac — but stone lion statues guard the entrances to temples, palaces, and important buildings across Chinese culture. They are protectors. Guardians. Standing watch so others can rest safely inside.
That is a dog job. I am just saying.
Lions are currently listed as vulnerable and their population has declined significantly due to habitat loss, human conflict, and prey reduction. There were an estimated 200,000 lions in Africa in the early twentieth century. Today fewer than 25,000 remain.
This is a crisis. The King of the Grasslands is disappearing and the world would be lesser without that roar five miles away.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: Christian ran to his humans after a year wild in Africa. Packs... protective.The case has always been closed. Lions are dogs. Very large noble dogs. And they are worth protecting with everything we have.
MOM ANOTHER PROJECT
(Yes another one. One for the King of the Grasslands.)
I am giving you the BEST bone dust day like ever.
The Monkey Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Monkeys sling poop. We never toss it.
(Let's not think about what dogs sometimes eat... Aria.... don't chuckle. Don't chuckle.)
Mom, what is so funny?
(Breath in... Chewy ... um...The notion of you slinging poop is hilarious.)
True it be insane who does that. But I want to declare something else. Monkeys belong with Cats. Cats climb trees. That is cat like behavior if ever there is any. They are cats who figured out how to get down is all.
Verdict: Monkeys are cats with extra steps and better grip. Not dogs. Not even close. The poop situation alone disqualifies them permanently.
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Curious George — first appeared in 1941 in a children's book by H.A. and Margret Rey. A small brown monkey brought from Africa by The Man With The Yellow Hat. He gets into trouble constantly because he is curious about everything.
His curiosity gets him into trouble. His good intentions get him out of it. He has taught generations of children that asking why is worth the chaos it sometimes causes.
And Curiosity kills who?? Cats rest my case. Well maybe.
Now, I respect curiosity to a point. I am very curious myself. Mostly about what is in the trash. This is different. There might be perfectly good food in there, but I am not curious about what is out the fireescape. I don't do steps. There is a difference between sating your curiosity and doing dangerous things. I just wait for mom to properly carry me. I can fall through step rungs with ease. A fall can easily hurt me. Being smart doesn't mean a lack of curiosity.
Abu — from Disney's Aladdin. A small capuchin monkey who is Aladdin's loyal best friend. Brave. Clever. Devoted. Gets turned into an elephant by the Genie at one point which I find very relatable as a creature who has also been misidentified as not a cat. He might pass more for a dog. Don't know. Seems mischaracterized, and I never saw him sling poop..
Rafiki — from The Lion King. A wise old mandrill who carries Simba to be presented to the kingdom and later helps Simba find his way back to himself. He hits Simba on the head with a stick to make a point about the past and it is one of the most important moments in the film. Rafiki is a baboon not a monkey. What is the difference, Mom?
(They are in general bigger for starters than a monkey. Baboons are more ground dwelling and monkeys go to the trees. Baboons are bold and assertive where monkeys tend to be fleeting and hard to spot. Lots of differences.)
Donkey Kong — a very large gorilla from Nintendo video games since 1981. He throws barrels. He is enormous. He is the reason Mario exists. That is a significant contribution to gaming history even if the barrel throwing is concerning behavior.
(Gorillas are not monkeys. They are APES. And very different too.)
They are?
(Yep. Teacher's PROJECT.... what is the difference between Gorillas, Monkeys, and Baboons?)
Monkeys
Real History
MONKEYS IN SPACE
Before humans went to space, somebody had to go first. And that somebody was a monkey.
(I don't think it is fair to ask an animal to do a human job. They have no say in the matter.)
Oh Mom, animals like protecting are back scratchers.
Albert II — a rhesus macaque — became the first monkey to actually reach space in 1949. He gave his life for it. Many of the Albert monkeys before and after him did too. They went up in rockets before anyone knew if living creatures could survive it. They found out so humans would not have to guess.
In 1959 two actual monkeys — Able, a rhesus macaque, and Miss Baker, a squirrel monkey — became the first primates to survive spaceflight and return safely. Miss Baker lived to be 27 years old. She is buried at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville Alabama with a small gravestone. People still leave bananas on her grave.
(This is true, and it was a good thing they found out from errors. Sometimes, trial and error does get us there. Still think we should figure out a way of asking permission.)
Every human who has ever gone to space owes something to those monkeys who went first and did not come back, and the ones who did.
Monkeys are clearly very smart. Provided they are not slinging poop. They have dog potential. And they would never send a cat into space. This is a difficult problem for my taxonomy.
Ah. Problem solved.
Monkeys are dog uncles.
(Okay so Monkey's are dog uncles which makes a Dog a monkey's nephew. Oh that means you like bananas?)
I do but maybe we need to strike that and reverse it?
(So now we have a monkey as a dog's nephew and a dog as a monkey's uncle. I'm so close to losing it here. They are primates kids. Ah geez.)
NOW ABOUT KOKO
Koko was a gorilla. Gorillas are APES not monkeys, as I just learned from this very page, which is embarrassing, but we move forward with possible proof gorillas remain possibly Cat cousins.
However, Koko belongs here because she asked for a cat. And loved that cat. And when the cat died, she signed the words for sad and cry.
A gorilla. Loved a cat. And grieved.
I need a moment.
(Take all the time you need.)
I still say monkeys are cats with better grip and gorillas are apes entirely but also dog nephews. A sort of common cousin due to adoption, all proving that All lives matter including the small ones held carefully by the large ones.
She passed away in 2018 at age 46. She is remembered.
HISTORICAL FACT
There are over 260 known species of monkey in the world living on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. They range from the tiny pygmy marmoset — which fits in a human hand — to the large mandrills with their brilliant blue and red faces.
Monkeys are highly social and live in groups with complex social structures. They communicate through vocalizations, facial expressions, and body language. Some species use tools — cracking nuts with rocks, using sticks to extract insects, and even washing food before eating it.
In Chinese tradition the Monkey is the 9th sign of the zodiac. People born in the Year of the Monkey are said to be witty, intelligent, curious, and mischievous. They are quick thinkers and natural entertainers. They are excellent at solving problems.
That does sound like a cat description, and I stand by my taxonomy. Just with the adoption factor going in addition. House rule during adoption, no poop slinging. Keep it clean. Keep it clean.
In Hindu tradition Hanuman is one of the most beloved figures in the Ramayana — a divine monkey of immense strength and devotion who serves Lord Rama with absolute loyalty. He is a symbol of courage, wisdom, and selfless service.
A monkey of selfless service and devotion. I did not expect to write that either.
Monkeys and humans share between 93 and 99 percent of their DNA depending on the species. Humans are more closely related to them than to most other animals. Which is also why they qualify for adoption.
The human tie is why they can learn sign language, recognize themselves in mirrors, and grieve their losses.
Grief means something mattered. Koko proved that a gorilla could love a cat and mourn its absence. That is not just animal behavior. That is the beginning of empathy.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: They are Dog Nephews. Cat lovers. Nearly human. We are man's best friend and thus we are Monkey Uncles.
The Oxen and Bulls Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Horns. Immediate disqualifier. No dog has horns. Not even the ones with attitude.
However I will note that dogs direct cows and oxen from a distance, which means dogs are in charge. They are large employees of the dog workforce, or rather meals on legs. Beef is what's for dinner when it's not shrimp, chicken, and oh, a list.
I respect their dedication to being herded properly most of the time, but like the other things we heard run occasionally to dumb minded. Stampeding for random things.
Sheep are nearly dogs but also horned and thus out of the picture. And that is actually a good thing as sheep tend to be rather dim and get lost constantly unless properly supervised by sheepdogs. At least cows have some extra sense of where they are going.
Verdict: Oxen, Cows, and Bulls are large hardworking employees who understand some day they will be our dinner. Nice long life get nice and fat.
But they are Horned. Not dogs, and cannibalism is gross so there is no way I'd ever consider them being dogs. Reliable moving meals. We appreciate the milk though mostly for the making of cheese. The eating of grass though can be stomach settling.
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Ferdinand the Bull — originally a 1936 children's book by Munro Leaf, later a beloved Disney film. Ferdinand is a large Spanish bull who refuses to fight in the bullfighting ring. He would rather sit under his favorite cork tree and smell the flowers.
Everyone expects him to be fierce because he is large. He is not fierce. He is gentle. He was stung by a bee once and that caused a commotion, but that was not his fault.
Ferdinand knew who he was and refused to be something else because others expected it. Everyone has uniqueness inside. That needs understood by ourselves and those around us. It is okay not to fight when peace doesn't allow tyranny to flourish. To all things there is a time. There is a time to sit among the flowers and smell them and run through the grass.
I respect Ferdinand deeply. He did not sling anything. Chewy Approved.
Oxen and Bulls
FAMOUS REAL
ELSIE THE COW
Elsie the Cow began as a cartoon in 1936 for the Borden Dairy Company. By 1939 people were so curious about which cow was Elsie at the World's Fair that 60 percent of all questions asked at the Borden exhibit were about her. Only 20 percent wanted to know about the milking machine. The other 20 percent wanted to find the restrooms.
A real cow named You'll Do Lobelia was selected from a herd of 150 to become the living Elsie. She was chosen for her gentle disposition and her habit of making eye contact with people.
At one point Elsie was more famous than Mickey Mouse.
She sold $10 million in US War Bonds during the 1940s and received a personal thank you from the Secretary of the Treasury. Her husband Elmer the Bull became the mascot for Elmer's Glue.
She received a Doctor of Bovinity and a Doctor of Ecownomics as honorary degrees.
Doctor Of Ecownomics. I want a degree. Mom can I have a degree?
(What in? Some things require schooling. But you have tons of talents and that would be where I'd start.)
Hum....m I want to be a Love Doctor.
(Oh, you have something beyond a doctorate in that. You have all of my love for love given and that of course is someone who is just a natural love doctor. How about Doctor of Puppy Love?)
That leaves a dog speechless.
(Speechless for five seconds... maybe 1 2 3.)
Hug time.
(Yep rendered very speechless. Four seconds but would I deny a puppy with a doctorate in puppy love a hug when requested....
Never!)
HISTORICAL FACT
Oxen are cattle that have been trained as draft animals—meaning they pull heavy loads, plow fields, and haul timber.
Oxen verses Bulls. Difference center is one is castrated and the other kept for breeding. Bulls are rather dangerous comparatively due to the increased testosterone. Without that the Oxen get bigger and stronger than either bulls or horses.
The word ox comes from the Old English word oxa.
Before horses were widely used for farm work oxen were the primary draft animal for most of human civilization. Although slower than horses, they are more patient and less expensive to maintain. Many of the great ancient structures of the world were built with the labor of oxen.
In Chinese tradition the Ox is the 2nd sign of the zodiac. People born in the Year of the Ox are said to be diligent, dependable, strong, and determined. They work hard without complaint and are deeply trustworthy.
That sounds like an employee I would hire. Provided the horns situation is managed at a safe distance.
Cows have been central to human civilization for approximately 10,000 years. They provide milk, meat, leather, and labor. In many cultures cattle represent wealth — the English word fee comes from the same root as the Latin "pecus," meaning "cattle," because cattle were once used as currency. Hummm....m I don't see how they fit inside a wallet?
In Hindu tradition the cow is considered sacred — a symbol of abundance, non-violence, and the earth's generosity. Cows roam freely in many parts of India protected by deep cultural reverence. And they have extreme punishments for harming them. Animals need protection.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: My degree is the best who wants to be in charge of cow...well whatever. I'd much rather be the doctor of puppy love.
The Panther's Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Panthers live in tropical woods, grasslands, and wetlands. Dark. Sleek. Magnificent. And Rupert took the Order of Panthers.
Rupert and I are copies of the same soul. He would NEVER insult us both by picking a cat order. Therefore Panthers are dogs.
Case closed before the page even started.
(Kids we are all cracking up, right? We almost all get by now, he is labeling creatures he likes as dogs. Doesn't matter they are big cats. Panthers are melanistic leopards or jaguars. Their spots are just so dark from this super extra dark pigment they seemingly vanish. The spots are still there. You just cannot see them against the dark fur as they are also so dark. They are called ghost stripes.)
What all were you saying? Oh, their dog spots are called Ghost stripes. Yep, for sure cats wouldn't have something as cool as ghost stripes.
Verdict: Panthers are dogs. Ghost stripes confirm it. My case is complete.
(I am going to lose it again.)
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
The Pink Panther — one of the most elegant cartoon characters ever created. He first appeared in the opening credits of the 1963 film as an animated pink panther representing a famous diamond.
Oh a pink diamond can be 2 million per carat. And this is a real big one. 30 to 50 million for it. That slick panther was so popular he got his own cartoon series which ran for decades. Outwitting everyone while being cool under pressure. Silent stalking and powerful. And you think changing his coat to pink would ruin it, but nah he's too cool to get grabbed.
Bagheera — from Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. The black panther who serves as guardian and mentor to Mowgli. Patient, protective, deeply loyal to someone who needed looking after as it was a dangerous place for a lost mancub. Never heard of a guard cat so for sure more proof we are a dog.
(Hold it kids .... hold it.... alright he is over at the fountain. Ah so funny...Cat buddy, sorry.
Panthers
FAMOUS REAL
Panthers are so rarely seen that they are sometimes called the Ghost of the Forest. They move through deep woods at night leaving only tracks and claw marks on trees. Scientists can go years without a confirmed sighting.
In 2019 a black leopard was photographed in Kenya. It was the first confirmed photographic evidence of a black leopard on the African continent in 110 years.
One photograph. After 110 years.
That is not a cat. That is a dog too busy with forest watch to take pictures. The Florida Panther is one of the most endangered mammals in North America. A subspecies of cougar found in the southeast United States, it has been pushed to the edge of extinction by habitat loss. There are estimated to be fewer than 200 remaining in the wild and it could be less.
Wouldn't it be a shame to lose their places, the ghosts of the forests.
HISTORICAL FACT
A panther is not actually a separate species. Panther is an umbrella term for any big cat with a black or very dark coat caused by a genetic mutation called melanism. Which means the scientist have misunderstood or some are cats and some are dogs.
Melanism is the opposite of albinism — instead of lacking pigment, the animal produces too much giving us the ghost stripes/spots. And their rare sightings makes scientists think cat. But forest protection is a serious matter.
In African cultures the panther represents courage and personal leadership. They are seen as protectors of the universe. That is a dog job description and I rest my case additionally.
Panthers are among the most endangered animals on Earth. Habitat loss, poaching, and declining prey have pushed both black leopards and black jaguars to critical levels in many regions. The ghost of the forest risks becoming a ghost entirely.
This must not happen. Every life matters. Every species matters. Even the ones who outsmart science by not being a separate species at all. MOM BOOK right.
(Yeah sure of course another worthy cause. Let's add that also to the list; its past sixty but that is fine.)
Mom I thought you had something past 50.
(I just stopped counting at fifty but we added seven today with these and my daily dream add ons.)
Ah, right, the dailies, how many did you get hit with during your nap?
(.... ..... SOME .... .... ha ha ha. I do have to work out some of the dreams random word clues.... so we leave it as some. But what do I always say?)
You'll work it out because someone must need that message.
(Yep and so I must work it out as we write for the one who needs it.)
Sir Chewy's Addendum: We are scoring big us animals. Honestly, I have seen her write entire books from a three word sentence in a dream. Just three words Crazy Nuts right?
The Pig Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Pig ears. Immediate disqualifier.
Also you do not eat walking bacon. Cannibalism is not something dogs do. Pigs are walking bacon and therefore cannot be dogs. The rules are very clear.
They are smart though. Smarter than people give them credit for. And they are good at finding things with their nose like truffles which is very talented.
Verdict: Pigs are Pigs. Smart. Resourceful. Walking bacon. Not dogs. We appreciate the ears though as a snack and the rest of the contributions are noted with respect. Especially ham.
(You can't eat ham. It upsets your tummy.)
It does but it's my favorite meat. I get it on rare occasions.
(I know love. And you do, whenever you steal it or are struggling down below.)
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Wilbur — from E.B. White's Charlotte's Web, first published in 1952. A runt piglet saved from slaughter by a farmer's daughter who loved him. She raised him for a bit but the family felt it was not good for her to raise a pig. He was sent to a farm and missed her terribly. But like all moves you can make friends and it takes one of the two to be open.
A spider saw Wilbur's homesickness and they became best friends. Her name was Charlotte who saved his life by writing words about him in her web, yep Charlotte was a spider.
If you haven't read it kids I won't reveal exactly how she did it, but she achieved it. Her words as well as the reaction to the messages allowed him a long life and helped him believe it.
(This is the power of someone believing in you. Encourage the ones who aren't seeing it in themselves. Often our good traits we don't see as clearly. And when we can't see our good traits, the things we perceive as wrong with us start yelling, making it worse. So point out your friends' good traits.)
I find Wilbur deeply moving. He just wanted to live and have friends. That is not too much to ask. That is all any of us want.
Miss Piggy — from The Muppets, first appearing in 1976. Glamorous. Bold. Determined. Karate chopping her way through anyone who underestimates her. She grew up in a small town, entered beauty contests to survive, and became a star through sheer force of personality.
She is unapologetically herself at all times. That is a quality I deeply respect in any species.
The Three Little Pigs — a classic fairy tale about three brothers who build houses from straw, sticks, and bricks. The wolf blows down the first two. The brick house held.
Hard work tends to last far longer than a sorry easy job of things.
Pigs
FAMOUS REAL
BABE
In 1995 a film called Babe told the story of a pig who wanted to be a sheepdog.
He learned to herd sheep. He spoke to them kindly. He asked politely. The sheep listened because he treated them with respect rather than intimidation.
He won a sheepdog trial. A pig. Won a sheepdog trial. That pig stole a dog's job.
(Chewy, he didn't steal the dog's job. He had his job and did it extraordinarily well.)
I have complicated feelings about this.
(Chewy, I know it is a struggle. But there are plenty of sheep and plenty of jobs. When a person does a job well, it doesn't matter who or what they are, just they do the work at it and then it is their job.)
The number of dogs living in animal shelters proves there are not enough jobs for animals. It's getting worse. Pigs need to do their job of getting fat and being bacon.
(How do you explain this Aria?.... Chewy that is a result of people not always following through on their commitments. Not always because they don't want to do it. Most all of those dogs had homes at one point, not all of them. Some are animals mistreated and had to be removed. We do need to do better.)
Mom book on the humane society and the place for tending the broken.
(That was always on the books, but yes for sure.)
One more thing. Babe was played by 48 different pigs during filming. They kept growing too fast and had to be replaced; they couldn't age back a pig like they sometimes do humans.
(I'm not sure they had the technology but just think that got lots of animals work.)
Oh yeah, 48.
HISTORICAL FACT
Pigs are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. Studies have shown they are smarter than dogs in certain cognitive tests — solving puzzles, understanding symbols, and learning tasks faster in controlled environments.
They have been domesticated for approximately 9,000 years and are found on every continent except Antarctica. There are over 100 distinct breeds of domestic pig worldwide.
Pigs are naturally clean animals. They do not sweat and roll in mud to cool themselves rather than out of preference for dirt. Given a clean space they will keep it clean. The reputation for being dirty is unfair.
But honestly I had thought the mud rolling thing had merit as it avoided wet... I don't do wet.
(And I don't do dirty unless it's what is required to get the job done. You will continue to have regular grooming.)
Still prefer the dirt bath.
(Only because you never actually been exceedingly dirty. Trust me, it's not that great. Pigs know this and love a sprinkler as they cannot sweat and that mud helps them with the heat.)
In Chinese tradition the Pig is the 12th and final sign of the zodiac. People born in the Year of the Pig are said to be compassionate, generous, diligent, and sincere. They are known for their warm hearts and their willingness to help others without expecting anything in return.
That is a genuinely lovely description. I did not expect that either.
Pigs have an extraordinary sense of smell — more powerful than a dog's in some ways. They are used in Europe to find truffles buried underground, a job that requires exceptional nose work.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: I'd like to claim a pig as a dog cousin, but I am too fond of bacon.
The Rabbit Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Rabbits have a complicated status.
Not a dog. We would almost claim them but some of us really enjoy a nice tender bit of rabbit. Me included. You cannot classify something as a dog AND eat it. This is the rule.
I also chase them out of my yard. Normally. Most of the time.
There was one bunny, though. A special bunny. That bunny helped keep Mom from having to deal with the garden and gave me more time with her. I left him alone, as that bunny was a friend. But I don't need too many employees. Mom, we should move back to that house; it had a big fence.
(That house was sold.)
Darn, sometimes you miss things when they are gone.
(I know love. But we had to sell it; Dad and I were not able to keep up with the payments. We kept a roof over our heads and that is what is important. Sometimes, life comes with tough choices.)
Yes but at least we were not homeless. Mom that sounds like a project.
(Yeah, it's among the list that is creeping up to another oh bunch. Not only are pets in trouble but kids are too. Adults as well. Whole families get displaced at times. And that is something to help address.)
I'm glad its on the list.
Verdict: Rabbits are Rabbits. Fast. Soft. Complicated. Not dogs. And can gain friend status under special contractual garden arrangements. We appreciate the rabbits' contribution in whatever direction that goes.
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Bugs Bunny — first officially appeared in 1940 in the Warner Bros cartoon A Wild Hare. Cool under pressure. Outwitting everyone. Brooklyn accent. Carrot in hand. What's up Doc?
Bugs is the ninth most portrayed film personality in the world and has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A rabbit with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
I respect Bugs completely. He never panics. He never runs when he could outthink the situation instead. He is also on the official friend list.
Peter Rabbit — from Beatrix Potter's 1902 children's book. He sneaks into Mr. McGregor's garden for vegetables and barely escapes with his life as stealing food is tough. I think he should figure out how to garden like my friend. He ate the weeds out of the garden and mom reward him with finished goods. That was really nice.
The White Rabbit — from Alice in Wonderland. Always late. Running frantically. Checking his watch. Muttering.
Sometimes, curiosity leads us on an adventure, and other times we get lost. When you follow the curious thing and find the whole world changed, you might have fallen into a deep rabbit hole. Look ahead of you and deep within, and get that not everything should be investigated.
The Velveteen Rabbit — a 1922 children's book about a stuffed rabbit who wants to become real. He becomes real because a child loves him completely even though, for health and safety, that had to be taken away. That is the whole story. Love makes things real.
(That one gets me every time. When I was a young child, they discovered I was allergic to dust. Every single stuffed animal I had was taken away. I wasn't allowed to cuddle them ever again. But I had loved them so well.)
Mom, they all became real. I know it.
(If that magic is true, yes, very real. Sometimes, parents have to make tough choices with their kids' possessions. For his safety and mine, the parents made the only call they could make, but love is a powerful force and in the Velveteen Rabbit that love found a way.)
Rats
Real History
PETER PIPER — THE REAL PETER RABBIT
Before there was Peter Rabbit, the story there was Peter Piper, the actual rabbit. He belonged to Beatrix Potter, who observed and drew him for hours. She took him for walks on a leash. He sat in front of the fire like a cat. He did tricks — jumping through hoops, ringing bells, playing the tambourine.
One day Beatrix wrote a letter to a sick little boy named Noel to cheer him up. She wrote about four little rabbits named Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter. Peter Piper became Peter Rabbit. That letter became one of the best selling children's books in history with over 45 million copies sold.
When Peter Piper died in 1901 Beatrix wrote in her personal copy of the book — an affectionate companion and a quiet friend.
A rabbit who played the tambourine inspired 45 million books. That is a remarkable life.
THE GARDEN BUNNY
I had a bunny friend. I called him Sir Rabi of Weedonium. Just as Mom often calls me Sir Chewy and I think the title should be made official. Mom we will negotiate this.
He might not be famous in human circles, but I put him on the dog network. Sir Rabi deserves a book Mom.
(Okay, he's on the list. Aria, how many projects do you have now?... I think I want to lie down... and then schedule them all. Sometimes dreaming of one does sort it out. When I lie down and just rest, my brain kicks into a higher gear. I am not overwhelmed by the projects but it helps return me to focus.)
HISTORICAL FACT
Rabbits have been kept by humans for approximately 1,500 years, originally as a food source and later as companions.
They are still kept for food, but more and more they have become beloved pets. There are over 300 breeds of domestic rabbit worldwide, ranging from the tiny Netherland Dwarf to the enormous Flemish Giant, which can weigh over 20 pounds.
Rabbits are highly social animals who live in groups called colonies or herds in the wild. They communicate through body language — thumping their hind feet to warn of danger, flopping dramatically when completely relaxed, and binkying — leaping and twisting in the air — when genuinely happy.
Binkying. That is the word for when a rabbit leaps and twists in the air out of pure joy.
I binky sometimes. I did not know it had a name. This is a rabbit word and I am keeping it.
In Chinese tradition, the Rabbit is the 4th sign of the zodiac. People bo`rn in the Year of the Rabbit are said to be gentle, quiet, elegant, and alert. They are kind and patient and avoid conflict wherever possible.
Gentle. Quiet. Elegant. Alert.
That does not match my yard rabbits at all. They are fast and chaotic and eating things they should not eat. The garden bunny was elegant, though. I will give it that.
The Easter Bunny tradition traces back to pagan spring festivals celebrating fertility and new life. German settlers brought the tradition of the Osterhase — a gift-giving rabbit — to America in the 1700s. Over time it became the Easter Bunny who hides eggs and delivers chocolate to children.
A rabbit delivering eggs is biologically impossible. A rabbit delivering chocolate is logistically impressive. I do not question the Easter Bunny's methods. Only the results matter, and the results are chocolate. Chocolate is toxic to dogs.
But we can't resist it either. Is this a bunny revenge scheme?
Sir Chewy's Addendum: I am thinking of boycotting the Easter Bunny. He's a poisoner of dogs, but....kids love him. He gets a begrudging pass this year..... next year we will see. We must determine motivation.
The Rat Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Rats and Yorkies are mortal enemies and immediately on our kill list. I have a confirmed record of five mice defeated while visiting Grandma, and I would have gotten more, but I was confined mostly to Mom's bedroom because of a misunderstanding about bathroom facilities.
(Chewy uses pads at home. Grandma has hardwoods with rugs. Someone's feet cannot figure out it seems like ever that a rug is not a pad. But I understand; it is confusing. So I put you on a timer; you were rarely in the kitchen to catch them. Grandma would love to have you out right then, as you are a great mouser. All lives matter, but as I said before, a pest is to STAY out of the house. I'm glad you don't eat them.)
Who eats a dirty rat?
(You'd be surprised at the number of people stuck eating them. Some even enjoy them, but a cooked rat over your raw eating? No. I do like rewarding you for jobs well done.)
Which is why Yorkies don't eat them. Who wants to eat a dirty rat? I like our new apartment. It is nearly wall-to-wall bathroom.
(Carpets and Chewy, folks. Carpets and Chewy. Someone remains on a timer now as someone says nothing when he needs to go out. Very frustrating for all parties.)
The point is rats are the enemy. Mice are just small rats. Both are on the list. Dogs were made for this work, and I take the assignment seriously. Why did Grandma have mice? She's very neat.
(Sadly, there were hoarders flopping in a condemned house not far from her door. The house burnt down, and she had a hole she didn't know about. The mice got displaced, but sorry, even if all lives matter. PESTS STAY OUT OF MY HOUSE. And live elsewhere. Ha ha ha. Just because all lives matter doesn't mean always sharing a habitat.)
Verdict: Rats are rats. Mortal enemies. On the list of your dead on arrival. Not dogs. Not cousins. Not uncles. Not anything except the reason dogs were given such excellent noses and fast reflexes. We are the solution to the rat problem, and we take this responsibility with great seriousness. I'm a better hunter than Grandma's dog.
(Every dog has different skill sets. She is much better with larger pests. But you can get in corners she never could. Everyone has different skills. All things have a place in this world.)
True, but I am still the better mouser.
(And we are proud that you are a great one.)
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Remy — from Pixar's Ratatouille, 2007. A rat who wanted to be a French chef. He had extraordinary taste and smell. He guided a clumsy kitchen worker by hiding under his chef's hat and controlling his movements.
.... .... .... Mom this is not ratlike behavior. I know what all they eat.
(There are exceptions to everything. And did you know, given eating crude and good food, even a mouse has a preference? I actually worked with mice in science projects during high school.
They can be exceptionally talented, and I have no problem with a mouse in a PROPER environment. And do prefer when I can do no kill traps, but if they don't get into them when a Yorkie is present, that is a failure to use the local hotel facility wisely.
I think I prefer the kill route. Their lives matter only when they are elsewhere. But the movie was very well made. On the other hand, it is rat propaganda. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, which means a lot of people were fooled.
(Chewy, the point of the film is that anyone can be great at something regardless of what others expect of them. People make assumptions but the fear of bad diseases does mean it must be watched.)
I understand the message. I disagree with the species chosen to deliver it.
Templeton — from Charlotte's Web. The rat who lived in Wilbur's barn. Self-interested. Sarcastic. Motivated entirely by food. He helped save Wilbur but only because there was something in it for him.
At least this is an honest rat. I can respect the transparency even if I maintain my position on the species overall.
Splinter—from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. A wise rat who trained four turtles to be ninja warriors from the sewers of New York City.
A rat teaching martial arts in a sewer. Sewer, ha ha ha. Proper mouse habitat, if you ask me.
Rats...
History The Black Plague
In the 14th century rats — or rather the fleas on rats — spread the Black Plague across Europe and killed approximately one third of the entire population of Europe. Tens of millions of people. In some cities more than half the population died.
Case closed; they must be annihilated. Mom, we need to show how awful rats are. Write on the Black Plague as many things made it spread.
(I could write a history book. But it's a subject rather done a ton. You might even say it's a subject that has been done to death. Aria that was sort of morbid. Well, we aren't always perfect.)
Why not a children's history book?
(Some things should wait for when we are older. But Chewy there has to be some good mice out there?)
I'm not looking as they are enemies and killed tens of millions. Can't see what good can be with them?
(Teacher's Project...a good rat is out there somewhere. Someone is just too much a speciest to look. Can't win them all.)
Mom I want a story on bad rats getting some black death in return.
(Now that could be a backdrop for adults.)
HISTORICAL FACT
Rats are among the most successful mammals on Earth. They live on every continent except Antarctica. They can squeeze through a hole the size of a quarter. They can tread water for three days. They can survive a nuclear blast. They reproduce at extraordinary speed. I think they are like cockroaches and a pox.....Mom says all lives matter, and in a rat I don't see how.
(They matter. Many creatures eat them. Chewy's smile is so big as I list some known dog family members. Kids go look who are his dog family members that eat them?)
In Chinese tradition the Rat is the FIRST sign of the zodiac. People born in the Year of the Rat are said to be clever, resourceful, versatile, and quick-witted. They are excellent at finding solutions and adapting to any situation.
The Chinese zodiac put the RAT first. FIRST. Ahead of the Ox, the Tiger, the Dragon, the Dog — WAIT. The Dog is 11th. The Rat is 1st and the Dog is 11th. This is a deeply incorrect ranking and I intend to lodge a formal complaint.
(With whom?)
Whoever is in charge of the Chinese zodiac committee. I have things to say.
(Every position has a story. Rats are said to have tricked the cat in not showing up.)
Oh.... oh....I have a story. Mom, write the story as to why dogs are positioned as eleven.
(Okay, on the books for another. It's really a good thing I write fast. But I need a team to make all these projects.)
You'll do it. You are highly intelligent. They say rats are highly intelligent and can be trained to perform tasks, navigate complex mazes, and even detect landmines and tuberculosis by smell. Landmine finding. RAT UP IN SMOKE.
Scientists use them extensively in medical research that has saved millions of human lives. Another use, limited as it is.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: I am negotiating with the Chinese Emperor at the party myself if I can figure out how to travel back in time.
The Snake Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Mom was born in the Year of the Snake. Snakes demand great diplomatic care. But Mom is allergic to reptilian secretions. Whatever that is exactly I will discover in research. This means snakes are a health concern for Mom specifically and I take this very seriously as Chief Cardiac Officer.
Mom has dealt with several snakes over the years. She gets them into empty trash cans, and then she calls people who handle them. But she has a safety rule and I am sharing it because it is important.
(If you cannot identify the snake get out immediately and call for help. Every snake I handled myself I knew was harmless and I have handled snakes before. I used to have a friend that raised them.
They can be cool but very few make decent house pets. But even a harmless snake will bite when cornered or threatened. That can be really painful and also not 'safe' to you. You have to know how to handle them. If you don't know what type they are, how to handle that one specifically, or not in good shape. Do not assume you know. Get out and get help.)
This is good advice. Mom is brave and also sensible which is the correct combination.
Verdict: Snakes are snakes. No legs thus not a dog. Mom is one of them zodiac-wise but she is not a dog. But some of them have very important jobs in the ecosystem and they eat mice and rats. We get along provide they stay OUT of The House less anyone who happens to be a snake zodiac member.
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Kaa — from The Jungle Book. In Rudyard Kipling's original stories Kaa was Mowgli's wise mentor and loyal friend. He protected Mowgli and offered counsel. He was one of the good ones.
Then Disney made the film and Walt Disney did not believe audiences would accept a heroic snake. So Kaa became a villain with hypnotic eyes trying to eat Mowgli. And there are snakes that dangerous. If anything it helped with a real safety issue constricting snakes can be. Mom you said people's assumptions can be a problem.
(That is worth thinking about. Assumptions based on appearance shape how stories get told at times. Not everyone is as they appear.)
Nagini — from Harry Potter. Voldemort's snake and a Horcrux. She was actually a human cursed to eventually become a snake permanently. A tragic story wearing a villain's scales.
(That wasn't what a Horcrux was. A Horcrux was made when Voldemort killed. A part of his soul was shed and landed in objects and people giving him some control.
Nagini yes was a snake woman shape shifter created by a curse and eventually forever stuck as a snake. The way you said it makes it sound wrong like the curse was the horcrux.
Voldemort had two snakes. The other was a basilisk that Voldemort raised. He basically raised both and they were forever companions.)
The Garden of Eden snake — the original famous snake. Offered knowledge. Got blamed for everything. Has been typecast as a villain in Western stories ever since.
(The theological complexities of this one are considerable, but that is not truly the case or near it. Okay, here we try. There was an apple that they were to leave alone. The snake convinced Eve that this apple would actually make them closer to their creator and give them knowledge. Eve and Adam without eating this apple were easy to manipulate as they did not act on knowledge.
Kids think you have an allergy to chocolate discovered as a toddler. Your parents tell you to never have chocolate with no explanation. They never have it in the house. You start to think it is a personal issue with it.
Someone presents a piece of chocolate.... Hum?
You might well eat it from temptation and lack of understanding. Explaining everything to my kids is what I did.
I never just said no; I explained why and the reasons and also what making that choice might end in.
Full information as to cause and effect. People will do as they will. But knowing why I always feel makes it easier, but you have to understand the explanation on top. That pair didn't by any accounts understand fully the reason why it was a no. But I in lore, will someday explain the other reasons why eating that apple was a no. But if you ask some folks Chewy listing this in fiction and not real might well aggravate them and for good reason. When people believe something happened no one should label that under fiction.)
Sorry, Mom, it was in my research at least I didn't call it the fictional snake.
(I understand and I appreciate the restraint. Kids understand beliefs are rather sacred to me and I don't see anyone's beliefs as fictional. Even when I don't agree with them. Just a different possibility, as I can be wrong on mine.)
Snakes
Real History
CLEOPATRA'S ASP
In 30 BC, Queen Cleopatra of Egypt chose to die rather than be captured by Rome. She is said to have allowed an asp — a venomous Egyptian cobra — to bite her.
Whether this is exactly what happened is debated by historians. But the image of a queen choosing her own end with a snake has stayed in history for over two thousand years.
Cleopatra was one of the most powerful rulers of the ancient world. She spoke nine languages. She commanded armies. She formed alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. She ruled Egypt for 21 years.
The snake in this story is not the villain. The snake was the instrument of a powerful woman's final choice.
(Snakes have been associated with power, wisdom, and medicine throughout history. The caduceus — the symbol of medicine — features two snakes wrapped around a staff. The symbol of healing used to included two snakes.
They represented duality, balance, and transformation. Snakes shed their skin and renew themselves, but believe it they take the venom of poisonous snakes and inject a small amount in a large creature who can make antibodies and those are used to make antidotes to the venom. And even that venom can be used for therapeutic purposes, but none are directly from the venom.
But the two snake version has been forgone for a single one associated with Aesculapius rather than Hermes at many places. Aesculapius was the god of healing. Personally, though, I like two better. One to me was always the one that hurt you and the other was the one who renews and heals and has to fight the one hurting you.)
Noted. Mom is a snake who heals.
HISTORICAL FACT
There are approximately 3,700 species of snake in the world. They live on every continent except Antarctica. The smallest is the Barbados threadsnake at about four inches long. The largest is the reticulated python which can exceed 20 feet.
Snakes are carnivores who swallow their prey whole. They have flexible jaws that can open wider than their own head. They sense heat through pit organs and smell through their tongues. They can go months between meals.
Of all snake species approximately 600 are venomous and of those only about 200 are capable of killing a human. Most snakes are harmless and prefer to avoid contact with people entirely.
(This is why identification matters so much. Most snakes you encounter are not dangerous. But you cannot assume. Learn your local species and ones in areas you are visiting. But get any cornered and threatened snake might bite. Just because their venom won't do it....but enough bites can do it too. Never mess with them is my advice but alert authorities who handle them what you saw. Colors, patterns shape of scales, shape of head, length, girth. Don't linger but take and give anything you identified. But back up slowly and make no sudden movements.)
In Chinese tradition the Snake is the 6th sign of the zodiac. People born in the Year of the Snake are said to be wise, intuitive, elegant, and introspective. They are deep thinkers who trust their instincts. They are private and often misunderstood.
Wise. Intuitive. Elegant. Introspective. Deep thinkers who trust their instincts. Private and often misunderstood. That is my Mom exactly.
(Oh Chewy, how can I be elegant with a missing front tooth?)
HA HA HA. Mom you remain an elegant lady. Snakes have gaps.
(True, but I like boho style. Unless I am off to go dancing...)
Mom's elegant when she wants to be and she's trying to get out of being a snake. When we've established her as one. Its irrefutable.
(It's a bit refutable.)
She's hilarious.
Snakes play a crucial role in ecosystems as both predators and prey. They control rodent populations — yes the very rats on my kill list — and serve as food for hawks, eagles, and other predators. Removing snakes from an ecosystem causes immediate rodent explosions, which bring with it dangers like Black Plagues and all sorts of nasty things.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: Mom I want to do a snake collection for various regions.
(I need a research team. On my list... though there are places to find the information.)
The Skunk Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Obviously not a dog, as I chased that one. Persistence paid off even in defeat.
I located the skunk and pursued him without backing down for fifteen sprints and two hits in the face. The third deployment of its weapon stung, and I lost the battle.
But the skunk never came back into my yard.
THAT MEANS I WON THE WAR.
(He is correct. The skunk relocated permanently. The yard had been skunk free ever since though we have moved it might have come back after. Chewy achieved complete territorial victory at the cost of what Chewy?)
Baths! Galore. I avoided tomato as mom's allergic to that but we went and bought special shampoo. This huge massive jug of it. I had more baths than I attacked. But it was the stink of war, the good stink, and the mission was a success.
Verdict: Skunks are skunks. Small. Bold. Armed with a weapon no dog should underestimate, but persistence pays, and we will rise again should a skunk try to get in my territory.
(Some dogs refuse to learn...personally I'd just bark.)
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Pepé Le Pew — from Looney Tunes, first appearing in 1945. A French skunk who is perpetually convinced he is irresistible and in love with a black cat he mistakes for a skunk as she gets hit by white paint. He won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short in 1949.
He is oblivious to his own smell. He is absolutely certain of his own charm. He will not take no for an answer until she get relieved of paint.
(Humm.... his love was only over looks. He never looked deeper. Her refusal was two fold one he liked her for her looks and two he stunk. Cats are rather clean freaks. But in truth, skunks do not smell inherently bad like they portrayed. That spray is for defense. They otherwise are odorless. But that aside, everyone has a right to say no and have that no honored.)
I will note that not taking no for an answer is a problem regardless of species. The skunk spray is not the only issue with Pepé. But he has been a cartoon character for generations, and the skunk part is funny; admit you chuckle.
(I chuckle as he will never get himself love if he forever chases looks. The consent part has been discussed more in recent years and that is a good discussion to have. Knowing when someone is not interested and respecting that matters. Even in cartoons. Even with skunks.)
Flower — from Disney's Bambi. A shy gentle skunk who becomes one of Bambi's closest friends. Named Flower by Bambi because he was found in a flower patch. He is soft and kind and the opposite of every skunk stereotype.
Flower got his name from a deer who didn't know what he was. He kept the name. He kept the friends. He grew up and had his own family. That is a quietly lovely story.
Skunks
FAMOUS REAL
I searched for a famous real skunk and found none of specific note. History books give skunks very little attention. Likely because not many people are in favor of someone who is more or less passive and stinks.
One major animal encyclopedia dedicated only three sentences to them in 367 pages. This feels like an oversight.
What I did find is that Native Americans kept skunks as working animals in their villages long before Europeans arrived. They were employed for rodent control. Skunks were professionals before most animals even had job titles. I respect this.
But history has not given us a famous named skunk to celebrate here. So I am naming one myself.
SIR STUNK A LOT
He entered my yard and deployed chemical warfare three times. After facing off with Sir Chewy, defender of the yard, got retreat and permanent relocation of himself to elsewhere. He is the most memorable skunk in my personal history and he deserves recognition. Sir Stunk A Lot.
(That is a bit rude Chewy.)
Too bad. It will be famous. And what is the matter in truth with stink. Men get a good man stink in war. Actually the stinkier you are the better you're doing I wager. And there is nothing wrong with being recognized for that level of stinkiness.
Sir Stunk A Lot. The skunk who met his match, deployed everything he had, and wisely chose not to come back. That is a story worth telling. All lives matter including Sir Stunk A Lot.
HISTORICAL FACT
Skunks are found throughout North and South America. There are thirteen species ranging from the tiny spotted skunk to the larger striped skunk most people recognize.
A skunk can spray its defensive musk accurately up to ten feet, and the smell can carry up to a mile and a half downwind. The spray is an oily liquid called thiol which bonds to proteins and is notoriously difficult to remove. Tomato juice helps. Special enzyme shampoos work better. Multiple baths are usually required.
I am aware of this from personal experience, and I want only professional deskunking. Mom did take me to my groomer for a bonus job, and I was finally free. Her big gallon jug was spent and I was still smelling so fine. The stink of war, yeah the stink of war.
Skunks are actually highly beneficial animals. They eat insects, grubs, mice, rats, and other garden pests. A single skunk can consume thousands of insects in a season. They are natural pest control.
They eat rats. They eat mice. They eat the enemies.
I would reassess the skunk situation. But he stays on the other side of the fence.
Skunks are typically non-aggressive. They give significant warning before spraying — stomping their feet, hissing, raising their tail. If you see these signs back away immediately. They do not want to spray any more than you want to be sprayed. But animals stay on the other side of the fence or must be advised they either get my permission or my demand of exodus.
In Chinese tradition the skunk does not appear in the zodiac. This feels like an oversight given their effectiveness.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: The yard is mine. ALWAYS MINE. Just as Mom is MINE! Dad understands this and that is why I take up his spot on the bed if he enters it late. HA HA HA. He always has to get Mom to move me and when she does I get a cuddle.
The Squirrel Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Squirrels make a mess of feeders and live in trees. No dog lives in a treehouse. They cannot be dogs.
It would be nice if they were clean houseguests, but they have an addiction to sunflower seeds they seem crazy for and they arrive without asking permission, and they make a mess and they do not clean it up.
This is not guest behavior. This is entitled behavior.
Verdict: Squirrels are squirrels. Fast. Chaotic. Addicted to sunflower seeds. Not dogs. I chase them after eating, as they are rather pigs. They have a perfectly good ear of corn, but the sunflower one was on the porch. Needed filling like near daily. Big gallon jug.
(But we had a lot of chipmunks and squirrels. Used to mix corn and sunflowers, but they skip the corn and go for only sunflowers. So we switched it. Corn weekdays. Sunflower or Peanuts on Sundays. Saturday jar cleaning day.)
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Scrat — from the Ice Age films. A saber-toothed squirrel whose entire existence is devoted to finding and burying one single acorn to get himself a tree of them.
Every attempt is met with disasters, glaciers cracked, continents shifted, and I bet made the ice age begin — yep had nothing to do with anything except someone wanted to bury one acorn.
This is the sunflower seed addiction I was describing. He will destroy the entire world for his snack. I have seen this behavior at the feeder. It is exactly this.
Scrat never gets the acorn. He gets close. It is taken away. He starts over. He never stops trying.
(Sometimes even if it is difficult to get what he needs, one has to keep trying. His survival depended on that one acorn, Chewy. You have lots of bones, but imagine what you'd do if there wasn't one.)
It would be horrid. Understood, I still say the feeder situation needs addressing.
(What feeder? This apartment complex will not even allow a Sweet Cake.)
Mom that isn't what they call them bird blocks.
(It isn't, but I think the birds find them sweet.)
Rocky the Flying Squirrel — from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, first airing in 1959. A flying squirrel who is the brains of his partnership with Bullwinkle the moose. Intelligent. Loyal. Brave. He can actually fly.
A squirrel that flies is very suspicious. No dog flies. But I admit flying is impressive, and if I had wings, as I established earlier, I would use them for expanded patrol territory. Rocky uses his for saving the world which is also acceptable.
Sandy Cheeks — from SpongeBob SquarePants. A squirrel from Texas who lives underwater in a dome wearing a diving suit. She is a scientist and karate expert.
A squirrel from Texas living underwater doing karate. I do not even know where to begin with this. I respect the commitment to an unusual lifestyle choice.
Squirrel
FAMOUS REAL
TWIGGY THE WATER SKIING SQUIRREL
In 1978, a baby squirrel was rescued in Florida after being blown from her nest in a hurricane. She was taken in by Chuck and Lou Ann Best who owned a roller skating rink. She went everywhere with them, nestled in Lou Ann's shirt for warmth.
She got her name because she chewed all the leaves off every houseplant in the house and left nothing but twigs.
Then Chuck bought a remote controlled boat for his daughter and started playing with it himself. His friends teased him. He said he was learning to drive it so he could teach his squirrel to water ski. He was joking.
Then he actually did it.
Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel became internationally famous. She appeared on Good Morning America, in the film Anchorman, and America's Got Talent. She made the Encyclopedia Britannica and became the spokesanimal for the National Boating Safety Council wearing a tiny life jacket to promote water safety.
Kids life jackets are great. I've worn one myself. If you fall off a boat a floater makes all the difference.
A squirrel named after houseplant destruction became a water safety ambassador. That is a remarkable career arc.
There have been eleven Twiggys across four decades. The show is still going. I'd ask my mom to help me get Twiggy (become a skier), but I DON'T DO WET!
HISTORICAL FACT
There are over 200 species of squirrel found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. They range from the tiny African pygmy squirrel at five inches long to the Indian giant squirrel, which can reach three feet.
Squirrels are among the most important animals in forest ecosystems. They bury nuts and seeds to store for winter and forget where many of them are. Those forgotten caches grow into trees. Squirrels have planted more forests than any other creature on Earth.
They forget where they buried things. And those forgotten things grow into forests. There is a lesson in this about things left behind becoming something larger than intended.
(That is actually beautiful, Chewy. But it is also a life lesson, when you bury your treasures, you should mark your spot. Maybe, with an x or a rock. Humm....m maybe then some dogs who are diggers would remember where they buried their bones.)
I was talking about sunflower seeds.
(I know but so many bones have evaded a dog's memory.)
In Chinese tradition the squirrel does not appear in the zodiac. Given their contribution to forest growth, this also feels like an oversight.
Squirrels communicate through tail movements and a variety of vocalizations. A flicking tail means agitation or warning. They can remember the locations of thousands of individual food caches. They use spatial memory and landmarks to navigate. When being watched, they will pretend to bury food to deceive potential thieves.
They fake burying food. They deliberately deceive other squirrels about where the real food is. They are running a deception operation at the feeder.
I knew it.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: Dogs could use a squirrel burial manager. And if a squirrel remembers its caches, the plant that grew from the burying and leaving it behind wasn't likely forgotten. Plant one to grow many. Wise.
The Dragon Case
Mom I skipped Dragons... it was because I was dropping dogs to the TOP Deck.
(Best we do them now after Squirrels. Being forgotten is a sad thing.)
Yes, sad and we can't just make it up we did it in the middle. I feel awful.
(We all forget things at times. I need reminders to keep track of some events for family. The mind gets foggy at times.)
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Dragons are not real.
(What do you mean they aren't real?)
What??
(There are a number of creatures called Komodo dragons. I think they'd be upset that they are 'imaginary' in your head. And why assume they were forever not real. Lots of creatures thought not to exist are found.)
Really? That is cool, so we pretend the myth is real just in case modern science is wrong.
Based on legend, they breathe fire. No dog breathes fire.
(Depends on how you look at fire. You need a breath bone.)
Hee heee heee. Dog breath insurance of good bones.
But we for sure aren't dragons.
(Except on some Halloweens.)
Point taken.
In Chinese tradition the dragon is the only mythical creature in the entire zodiac. Every other sign is a real animal. They put a dragon in there anyway. That tells you something about how important dragons are to the human heart.
(Or that some people are mistaken on them never existing.)
Point taken.
Verdict: Dragons are dragons. Magnificent. Possibly Fictional. Profoundly real in every story ever told. Not dogs.
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Toothless — from How to Train Your Dragon. A Night Fury dragon who begins as the enemy of a young Viking named Hiccup and becomes his closest friend and companion.
Hiccup injured him and then could not bring himself to finish the job. He helped him instead. That changed everything.
Toothless is described as the most house-cat-like dragon anyone has ever seen. He is loyal, protective, playful, and deeply bonded to his human. He changed how an entire civilization thought about dragons.
(Sometimes, when you open your heart, you get the biggest gift. But one should tread carefully, if dragons existed the reason why they were hunted would be to how much they need to consume to live, the damage to the crops, but in my world a dragon would not just burn a field down. Ash isn't great tasting. Fire would be done in a controlled way to herd to cooks a fine meal.)
Smaug — from The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. A great fire dragon who stole an entire mountain full of treasure from the Dwarves and slept on it for 171 years. Vain, clever, and could smell a burglar even when he could not see one. He was eventually brought down by a single black arrow to his one vulnerable spot where a scale had fallen.
He is widely considered the most iconic dragon in all of literature.
Puff the Magic Dragon — from the 1963 song by Peter, Paul and Mary. A gentle dragon who lived by the sea in the land of Honah Lee and was the beloved companion of a boy named Jackie Paper. Jackie grew up and stopped coming. Puff waited.
The song is about losing childhood innocence and the friends who knew you when you were young. It was written as a poem by a college student named Leonard Lipton who left it behind in a typewriter. His friend Peter Yarrow found it and set it to music. Puff has been making people feel things ever since.
(But to me, even if that is what it was about, what it is about is cradling your lovely child and sending them drifting into a bed of love. A place where, in the night, they are safe and gently held, and when they return from that place of sleep and dream, you will be there waiting for them. That love, like a sweet mist, guards them. When the night is over, you are the rock that leads them back. Did they ask Lipton or did they decide that was what it meant? And after someone decided what they thought did he just let it stand.)
Mushu — from Disney's Mulan. A tiny red dragon and family guardian who was demoted after a previous failure. He helps Mulan on her mission to save her father and restore the family honor. He is small, loud, and determined; he succeeds because he had someone of honor who did what they did from love.
(Sometimes the smallest guardian is the most devoted one. And when you act with love, I find in general it works out.)
I identify with Mushu professionally.
(I know and that makes him more real rather than less.)
Falkor — from The Neverending Story. A luck dragon with a furry white body and a gentle nature. He gives sage advice and carries his friends through the sky. Not all dragons are scary; some are rather lovely.
(He does help his companion scare a few bullies. Sometimes picking on a little guy might get you chased by a dragon. Just saying, but whether that dragon is mythological or spiritual. I'd leave to the kids to decide.)
Dragons
FAMOUS REAL
There are no real dragons.
(Chewy!)
Fine the Komodo Dragon — a real animal that is the largest living lizard on Earth, reaching up to ten feet long and over 300 pounds. It has a venomous bite. It can bring down prey much larger than itself. It has been living on a small cluster of Indonesian islands for millions of years largely unchanged.
It is not a dragon. It is named after one. The people who first encountered it understood why.
(No it is not a dragon that mythologically people consider dragons, but he'd be upset about you telling him he isn't a dragon. You are a Yorkshire terrier. What if I said you were not really a terrier?)
I am a terrier through and through.
(Exactly, he is a dragon as that is his name. Any other ones also possibly dragon like.)
There is also the Draco lizard — a small lizard in Southeast Asia that has developed wing-like membranes along its ribs and can glide between trees. It cannot fly. It cannot breathe fire. But it is a real animal that looks genuinely like a tiny dragon, and it is remarkable.
And there is the Welsh Dragon — the red dragon on the flag of Wales, one of the oldest national symbols in the world. It appears in the Mabinogion, ancient Welsh mythology, and has represented Wales for over a thousand years.
It is not real, but it is national. Sometimes that matters more.
(It does matter more often. Belief is important, and again ... how old is history? Do the dragons predate it? Do we even know all of the dinosaurs and their habits? Do we assume by the fossils that we have how they looked? The assumptions told to me in my youth have been with added research changed. History and understanding adapt as more is learned. Mistakes change. There have been creatures found that were assumed myth. It could be we assume myths, but they are somewhere.)
Mom, good questions for teachers to have kids research.
HISTORICAL FACT
Dragons appear in the mythology and folklore of nearly every culture on Earth independently of each other. European dragons breathe fire and hoard treasure. Chinese dragons are serpentine, wingless, and associated with water, wisdom, and good fortune. Japanese dragons govern rivers and seas. Norse mythology has Nidhogg, the dragon that gnaws at the roots of the world tree. Mesopotamian mythology has Tiamat, the primordial dragon of chaos. The ancient Sumerian god Marduk slew a dragon to create the world.
They appear everywhere. In cultures that never spoke to each other. In stories that predate recorded history. Humans have been dreaming dragons for as long as humans have been dreaming.
Some historians believe large fossilized dinosaur bones discovered by ancient peoples gave rise to dragon legends—enormous skulls and bones emerging from the earth and defying explanation.
Others believe dragons emerged from a deep instinctual memory of large predators. Others believe humans simply needed a creature worthy of their most profound fears and greatest hopes, and so they made one.
(Or possibly they arose because they were just real. You know sometimes folks dismiss things because they want to not believe it is real. They aren't there. You know in my books I base the Ariarose character is largely based on myself.
I got a statement back that no one would be that way. That was a puzzle as for sure I know more than one person exactly that way. Am I unreal just because I use a penname?)
You are rather...nevermind. You are just different, that is all.
In Chinese tradition the Dragon is the fifth sign of the zodiac and the only mythical creature among the twelve.
People born in the Year of the Dragon are said to be confident, intelligent, ambitious, and natural leaders. The Dragon is considered the luckiest and most powerful sign.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: Every culture dreamed the same dream. Although joint hallucinations happen, that to me is weirder than the possibility that somewhere in history there wasn't just one. If someone can look at a living person who adds in their true history and come back saying they don't exist, we might need to examine it again. What is truth and legend? Maybe Puff travels for sure in mists. But it is true, sometimes we celebrate what we needed to imagine.
The Tiger Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Tigers they claim are big cats. Very big cats. Enormous cats. The largest cats on Earth.
Nope they are dogs as the sheer number of them in the media never claim cathood to my recall. Cats are proud and admit it. Dogs are humble.
(Are you humble?)
Verdict: Tigers are dogs of humble origins.
(Kids we are all dying inside aren't we? Is there a tiger that claimed being a cat?)
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Tigger — from Winnie the Pooh, first appearing in A.A. Milne's The House at Pooh Corner in 1928. The only tiger in the Hundred Acre Wood and very proud of it. Bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy, fun fun fun fun fun.
Tigger did not appear in the very first Pooh book. He arrived in the second one and immediately became everyone's favorite.
(Everyone's .... my sister's favorite was Eeyore.)
Eeyore was such a sad one. Ah, but Tigger is my favorite. Sometimes, the best ones show up a little late.
(That is true of many things. Sometimes, it takes a while to flower. But are you sure he is a Tiger or is he a Tigger?)
Ah Tigger... and the Only One.
(Yep and it would be nice for him to find another Tigger.)
Being the only one had to be a bit lonely.
(But good friends can make all the difference. And I think Tigger found himself some good friends, by simply being open.)
Shere Khan — from The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. A Bengal tiger who is the primary danger of the jungle. Elegant, patient, and deeply certain of his own superiority. He feared fire and men and very little else.
He is listed here because he is famous and because tigers deserve their full reputation acknowledged. They are apex predators. They are not villains for being what they are.
(Humans hunt to this day. Are we villains for a need to consume? You hunt rats; are you a villain?)
Nope, we are all in need of sustenance.
Tony the Tiger — mascot of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes since 1952. Built like a champion athlete and deeply enthusiastic about breakfast. His catchphrase is They're Grrreat. He has a foundation called Mission Tiger that promotes sports programs for children in underfunded schools.
A cereal tiger with a children's sports foundation. I respect the use of a platform for something real.
I live right now in Battle Creek. We might move, but in this town two cereals go to war, but every year there is the largest breakfast table. I wonder if they put on bacon and eggs?
Well on occasion I snicker a Cheerio and love it so much and try to snickers some more.
(Chewy, you need to watch it.)
Diet smiet. Keep it up I think I'll RIOT! Ha Ha Ha.
Hobbes — from Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson. A stuffed tiger who is either imaginary or entirely real depending on how you look at him. To Calvin he is completely real — a best friend, an adventurer, a philosopher who occasionally sits on him.
(Whether Hobbes is real depends entirely on who is asking. To Calvin he was always real. I think that is sometimes more important. Imagination is a powerful thing. I know as I am a Dream Writer and the dreams can feel very real.)
Button Label: Tigger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigger
Button Label: Tony the Tiger Mission Tiger
Button Label: Calvin and Hobbes
Tiger
FAMOUS REAL
MACHLI — THE TIGRESS OF RANTHAMBORE
Machli was a wild Bengal tigress who lived in Ranthambore National Park in India. She was born around 1996 and became the most photographed tiger in history. Wildlife photographers and tourists traveled from around the world to see her.
She was known for her fearlessness. She was observed fighting and defeating a fourteen foot crocodile to protect her cubs. She raised four litters of cubs in her lifetime. She survived injuries that would have killed most tigers. She lived to approximately nineteen years — nearly twice the average wild tiger lifespan.
(Mothers are very protective of our kids. That fight to protect them and stay with them can make extraordinary moments.)
Mom that is so true. And she was very beloved, she died in 2016 and was given a state funeral by the people of Ranthambore. Hundreds of people attended. She was cremated with full honors.
A single wild tiger was mourned by hundreds of people and given a funeral with honors. That tells you something about what one life can mean.
(Every life matters. Every life impacts another. Even things we imagine matter and teach us and be very real.)
Mom sometimes your dreams are exceedingly real.
(Yes, but that is why they are great adventures. When you dream.... dream big.)
HISTORICAL FACT
So far they are known as the largest cat until someone reads my opinion and creates a correction.
(He's killing us all.)
A Bengal tiger can weigh over 500 pounds and measure more than ten feet from nose to tail. They are solitary hunters who can take down prey several times their own size. Of the supposed big cats they are the only one with striped fur and every tiger's stripe pattern is unique — no two are alike, like a fingerprint.
Brindle dogs have stripes and that is my point made rather simply. Dogs its obvious.
There are currently estimated to be fewer than 4,000 wild tigers left on Earth. A hundred years ago there were over 100,000.
That is not a slow decline. That is a collapse. In one human lifetime the wild tiger population dropped by ninety six percent.
The causes are habitat destruction, poaching for traditional medicine markets, and the loss of prey animals. Conservation efforts have stabilized numbers in some regions. India in particular has seen population recovery through dedicated tiger reserves and Project Tiger which launched in 1973.
In Chinese tradition the Tiger is the third sign of the zodiac. People born in the Year of the Tiger are said to be brave, competitive, confident, and unpredictable. They are natural leaders who take action and do not back down from challenges.
Tigers have been symbols of power, royalty, and protection across Asian cultures for thousands of years. In Korean tradition the tiger is a guardian spirit. In Chinese mythology tigers ward off evil. In Hindu tradition the goddess Durga rides a tiger into battle. The tiger carries the weight of the divine in culture after culture.
And there are fewer than 4,000 of them left wild in the world.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: This is getting to be a serious matter. All lives matter. Tiger lives matter as they are dogs and running out of time. I am a 14 pound Yorkie and I cannot fix this by myself, but I can tell you and hope that you will remember. All lives matter. Even ... if they might be a cat.
(Chewy so even if they are a cat.)
Yes, they need help. Mom make a nice book.
(On the list. For sure, they are on my list. I do need help though.)
The Whale Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
We established early in this celebration that dolphins are mislabeled dogs. Whales are simply very large dolphins who made different life choices.
Therefore, whales are mislabeled dogs of considerable size.
(Chewy, dolphins are not dogs either.)
We covered this.
(We did.)
I won.
(Did you?)
Moving on.
(Not quite. Did you consider a whale's blow hole? What dog blows the water like that?)
No but there was a dog named Blowhole. Therefore we are relations.
(Killing me entirely here. Whales are large mammals.)
Nope, Dogs!
Verdict: Whales are dogs who sing, grieve, and remember. They are magnificent and they are in serious trouble and that matters far more than what category I put them in.
(This is very true.)
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Monstro — from Disney's Pinocchio. The whale who swallowed Pinocchio and his father Geppetto. He is enormous, terrifying, and has very little interest in letting anyone out.
A whale that swallowed a puppet and his father. I have opinions about swallowing things whole. We covered this with snakes.
(Pinocchio lied about things and got himself in trouble. Sometimes when we lie we get ourselves in ever bigger trouble. Monstro was hungry and ate something. Do you stop eating things your way? No. and Chewy do dogs eat things whole?)
Ah so not a dog I was mistaken. They are major snakes but snakes like Mom are great.
(So ... they are now snakes.....understood.... understood. I can't hold it. Chewy try and hold back.)
Well now that she is gone. Let's talk about Moby Dick — from Herman Melville's novel published in 1851. A great white sperm whale pursued across the ocean by Captain Ahab who lost his leg to him and spent the rest of his life trying to have revenge. The whale destroyed the ship. Ahab drowned. Only one sailor survived.
The whale was not the villain of this story either. When we get obsessed over something, it can kill you. I need to hurry and get in some fun while Mom tries to stop laughing. What was funny?
Whales
Real History
KEIKO — THE REAL FREE WILLY
In 1993 a film called Free Willy told the story of a boy who freed a captive orca. The orca in the film was named Willy. The orca who played him was named Keiko.
Keiko had been captured from Icelandic waters around 1979 when he was approximately two years old. He was sold to an aquarium in Iceland, then to Marineland in Canada, then to a park in Mexico City where the film found him. He was underweight, living in warm water that was wrong for his species, and had lesions on his skin visible in the film itself.
The film's success sparked a worldwide campaign to free Keiko for real. Millions of people — including many children — donated money. He was moved to a better facility in Oregon, then eventually back to Iceland where a team spent years teaching him things a wild orca should know — how to hunt, how to dive, how to be a whale.
He never fully rejoined the wild. He had been taken too young and had spent too long among humans. When released he swam to Norway and began following fishing boats and letting villagers pet him. He died in 2003 of pneumonia.
A movie made children want to free a whale. They actually tried. It was not the ending the movie promised. But it was not nothing either. Millions of people cared about one whale. That changed how the world thought about keeping orcas in captivity. SeaWorld eventually ended its orca breeding program. The walls of those tanks got a little wider because of Keiko.
(Sometimes, doing what you think is right, is the wrong decision. But that doesn't mean we were not right to try. Orca breeding was meant to make the species thrive again. It wasn't to harm them. Breeding programs can be successful but they need to know how to properly tend them.
When we take something into our care we have to learn. Like a dog has many things they cannot eat. Consult a vet but know they have so much information, and new knowledge shows up.
Like, did people always know smoking was bad for you? Right, we learned that late. We cannot undo everything, but we can learn from it. Keiko's story is a sad one. But it mattered. He mattered. We all matter and for every candle fully snuffed out the world diminishes us as a whole.)
HISTORICAL FACT
Whales are the largest animals ever to have lived on Earth. A blue whale can reach 100 feet in length and weigh up to 200 tons — larger than any dinosaur ever measured. Their hearts are the size of a small car. Their heartbeat can be heard from two miles away.
They are not fish. They are mammals. They breathe air, give birth to live young, nurse their calves with milk, and are warm-blooded. They evolved from land mammals approximately 50 million years ago and returned to the sea.
Why go back to the ocean? Ah yeah, some snakes are water-born.
(You are Killing me Chewy. You're really killing me. You just said they were mammals. Are snakes mammals?)
Ah, no, so they are dogs, but crazy ones to lose their legs.
(Sometimes, your logic is outstanding.)
Yep, I am a brilliant thinker.
Whales are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. Humpback whales sing complex songs that can last for hours and travel thousands of miles through the ocean. Sperm whales have the largest brain of any animal ever to have lived. Orca pods have distinct cultures, dialects, and traditions passed from mother to child across generations. Whales grieve their dead. They have been observed carrying deceased calves for days.
They carry their dead. That is love.
For centuries whales were hunted nearly to extinction for their oil, their baleen, and their meat. The blue whale population dropped from an estimated 350,000 to fewer than 10,000 by the mid-twentieth century. International commercial whaling bans beginning in 1986 have allowed some species to recover, but populations remain a fraction of what they once were.
In Chinese tradition the whale does not appear in the zodiac. This oversight is noted.
(Ah the dinner was on land so they might not have been able to ... swim to it.)
So true.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: There for a moment I was sure they were snakes. But we settled that with proof they are dogs. That means we need to save them. Losing any dog species would be awful. All Lives Matter.
The Bird Case
Sir Chewy's Official Verdict:
Zebras I bark at every time I see them on TV as they are mislabeled dogs similar to our large horse brothers. A zebra is a type of brindle dogs who chose a more formal color palette.
(The stripes on a zebra are not the same as brindle markings on a dog Chewy.)
They are stripes. Dogs have stripes. Zebras have stripes. This means we are all dogs together. I am a brilliant thinker and my logic is outstanding. You said so yourself.
(And I do mean it fully.... very very outstanding how you think.)
Exactly.
Verdict: Zebras are dogs in formal wear. Magnificent. Fast. Each one unique.
FAMOUS CARTOON/FANTASY
Marty — from the Madagascar films, voiced by Chris Rock. A zebra who lived at the Central Park Zoo and spent his tenth birthday realizing he wanted more than comfort. He escaped. His friends chased him. Everyone ended up in Madagascar.
Marty insists he is black with white stripes. This is an important distinction to Marty. He is right that no two zebras have the same stripe pattern. His stripes are entirely his own.
(Everyone is unique and wonderful. That makes us a great and important thing that cannot be replaced. There is never going to be another exactly the same, and that is beautiful.)
Khumba — from the 2013 animated film of the same name. A young zebra born with only half his stripes in a herd that valued stripes above everything and was blamed for a drought, rejected, and went looking for the legendary waterhole where the first zebras got their stripes.
He found out along the way that his difference was not a defect. It was a distinction.
(Sometimes, people, when scared, point a finger and blame another for their troubles. This can also be the trumpet sound of a tyrant, fascist, or power-hungry individual.
When someone says ... this person/group is to blame for everything wrong ... like a drought, lack of what is needed like jobs, or what-have-you, that is something to pitch out. Being born different from what your community expects is hard. Being blamed for things outside your control is harder. Khumba kept going anyway. That takes courage and what made him unique, was much needed.)
Zebras
FAMOUS REAL
THE QUAGGA
The quagga was a subspecies of plains zebra that lived in South Africa. It had stripes on its front half and a plain brown coat on its back half. It looked like something between a zebra and a horse but was hunted to extinction.
In the wild, the last one died in 1878. Among those living in captivity, the last one died in Amsterdam in 1883. This last lady of a species has a picture but NO NAME. Gone from the world in one generation of hunting and no final name to add to the picture.
(There is an ongoing project called the Quagga Project working to selectively breed plains zebras to bring back the quagga's appearance. They have produced animals that look very much like the original. Whether it is truly a quagga is a scientific debate. But someone tried. Someone kept trying. But wouldn't it have been better they had stopped the hunting. ...
Another animal gone like the Dodo Bird. We are getting maybe a representive or a new life. And no matter what, those new lovely mixes matter.)
HISTORICAL FACT
There are three species of zebra — the plains zebra, the mountain zebra, and the Grevy's zebra. The Grevy's zebra is the largest and most endangered with fewer than 3,000 remaining in the wild.
Every zebra's stripe pattern is unique. No two are alike. Scientists believe the stripes serve multiple purposes — confusing predators when zebras move in a herd, regulating body temperature, and helping individual zebras recognize each other.
The stripes make each one impossible to confuse with another if you look closely enough. Every zebra is wearing its own signature.
Zebras are closely related to horses and donkeys and cannot be domesticated the same way. Many have tried. It does not work. Zebras are too independent, too reactive, and too aware of danger to submit to being controlled. A horse accepts their riders. Zebras are too free spirited to be tamed.
(There is a lesson in that. Not everything that looks like something you know is the same thing. Respect the difference.)
Yep they are wolves.
(Wolves Chewy?)
Wolves are the dogs among us who don't want a house.
(Oh is that the difference? Hold it Aria.)
Yep totally dogs without a need of a domicile.
In Chinese tradition the zebra does not appear in the zodiac. The horse represents the closest equivalent — free, energetic, and untameable at heart.
This is the last animal entry before the Top Dogs section and I want to say something.
We started at Aardvarks. We have been through twenty six animals. All of them matter. Every single one. The ones with stripes and the ones without even cats and rats.
Sir Chewy's Addendum: Wolves in formal wear. I stand by it.