Tag: dogs are family

The Muttley Crew Chronicles

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant2 Comments

Complaint:
The bowl was empty for nearly seven minutes. Emotional damages are obvious.

At approximately 4:42 p.m., the plaintiffs approached the food bowl and discovered a shocking lack of dinner.

Max immediately alerted the household by standing beside the bowl and staring at Mom with deep disappointment.

Mitzi joined the case by pacing dramatically and checking the bowl from several angles, just in case food had appeared while no one was looking.

Finally, Mitzi moved into action, flipping the bowl over to grab Mom’s attention.

The defense claims dinner was not technically late.

The plaintiffs disagree.

Seven minutes in dachshund time is equal to three years, two winters, and one abandoned hope.

Requested Settlement:
Immediate dinner, one apology treat, and a written promise that this injustice will never happen again.

Final Ruling:
The court finds in favor of Max and Mitzi.

Sentence: Mom must fill the bowl and provide compensation in the form of snacks.

Court is adjourned.

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Daily writing prompt
If your pet could talk, what would be the first thing it says?
View all responses

Max and Mitzi’s First Words

A Very Short Tail


Caption: Before they became the Muttley Crew, they were just two tiny pups with big eyes, little paws, and very important opinions.

When Max and Mitzi were tiny puppies, they did not say their first words right away.

First, they tumbled.

Then they wiggled.

Then they chewed on things that were definitely not toys.

One morning, Max lifted his little nose into the air. He sniffed once. Then twice. Then he looked up with his big puppy eyes and said his very first word:

“Snack?”

Mitzi blinked, crawled onto the softest blanket in the room, tucked herself in like royalty, and gave a tiny puppy sigh.

Then she said her first word:

“Mine.”

And that was that.

Max became the official snack inspector, crumb detective, and cheese expert.

Mitzi became queen of blankets, cuddles, and getting exactly what she wanted with one sweet look.

Together, they learned one more important sentence: “Mom, we’re hungry… and also adorable.”

And maybe that is where the tiny crew really began, not just with snacks, blankets, and puppy mischief, but with two tiny hearts finding their way home.

From the very beginning, Max and Mitzi brought laughter, love, and a little bit of chaos into every day.

They were small enough to fit in my arms, but somehow big enough to fill my whole heart.

And from that day on, life was never quite as quiet, never quite as tidy, and never quite as ordinary.

It was better.

The Muttley Crew had found their furever home.

The Muttley Crew Chronicles

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Max and Mitzi’s Rules for Life
Tiny dog wisdom from the Muttley Crew

Rule #1: If Mom stands up, follow her. She may be going to the kitchen.

Rule #2: If Mom says, “I’ll be right back,” do not believe her. Escort her personally.

Rule #3: If a blanket exists, burrow under it. If Mom is using it, burrow harder.

Rule #4: If someone opens the refrigerator, report to duty immediately.

Rule #5: A treat broken in half is still one treat. We cannot stress this enough.

Rule #6: If Mom is trying to work, sit on her lap. She clearly needs supervision.

Rule #7: Bark first. Ask questions never.

Rule #8: If you hear a crinkle, assume it is snacks until proven otherwise.

Rule #9: The best seat in the house is wherever Mom was about to sit.

Rule #10: When life gets hard, find a blanket, demand cheese, and look tragically underfed.

Sincerely,
Max and Mitzi
Small dogs. Big feelings. Strong opinions.

The Muttley Crew Chronicles

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant2 Comments

Pupdate: Guess who started walking last night!

She may still be a little wobbly on her feet, but there is no more scooting along. She is walking, wiggling, and wagging her tail again!

It may be small steps, but to us, it feels like a miracle. Max and I are so proud of our brave little girl. Mitzi is on the mend.

The Muttley Crew Chronicles

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant2 Comments

The Dachshund Daily

Special News Release: Mitzi Is Showing Her Fighting Spirit Again

For Immediate Release

The Muttley Crew would like to report that our sweet Mitzi has had another setback with her back injury. Recently, she woke up partially paralyzed again, making this her third round of this difficult journey.

While that sounds scary, and it is, Mitzi has proven before that she is one strong little girl. Each time this has happened, she has worked her way back with rest, medication, care, and a whole lot of love. We are hoping and praying that this third time will bring another recovery.

The good news is that after rest and medication, Mitzi is improving every day. Her vet is optimistic, and thankfully, she is not in pain.

Even better, her feisty disposition is still very much intact.

Mitzi still loves viewing the outdoors from the patio, keeping watch over her yard like the little queen she is. She still enjoys time outside when the weather is cool. She still loves cuddles, attention, and sleeping in “her” bed at night because, of course, it has always been her bed. The rest of us are just allowed to share it.

Max has been the most incredible brother through all of this. He stays close, watches over her, and makes sure her favorite toy, Lamb Chop, is nearby whether she is resting by the patio door or settling in for the night.

There is something tender and beautiful about the way he looks after her. He may be silly, dramatic, and highly suspicious of empty food bowls, but when it comes to Mitzi, Max knows exactly what to do.

One of the sweetest signs of Mitzi’s determination is that she still scoots to the door to greet me when I come home from work. She may be moving differently right now, but her heart, spirit, and love are as strong as ever.

So today’s official Muttley Crew update is this:

Mitzi is resting.
Mitzi is improving.
Mitzi is loved.
Mitzi is still bossy.
And Mitzi is not giving up.

We are taking this one day at a time, with medicine, rest, hope, patio views, cuddles, and Lamb Chop close by.

More updates will come as our brave little girl continues her recovery.

The Muttley Crew Chronicles

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The Treat Jar Investigation
An official Muttley Crew Report

After careful sniffing, staring, and one dramatic sigh, we have concluded that the treat jar is being unfairly withheld from the public.

Mom has been named a person of interest.

At approximately 9:03 this morning, Mom walked past the treat jar without opening it. This suspicious behavior was witnessed by both Max and Mitzi, who immediately launched an investigation.

Evidence collected includes:

The jar was clearly visible.
The lid was closed.
No treats were distributed.
Mom claimed, “You just had one.”
This statement could not be confirmed by independent dachshund sources.

Max performed a full inspection of the kitchen floor, while Mitzi conducted emotional surveillance from the couch. Both investigators agree that the situation is serious.

The Muttley Crew is now demanding answers, justice, and at least one small snack while the investigation continues.

Breaking news will resume as soon as Mom wanders within treat-jar distance.

The Muttley Crew Chronicles

Published on by Ann Marie Bryant2 Comments

Max and Mitzi’s Guide to Human Training
Written by Max and Mitzi, professional dachshunds and household supervisors

Training a human takes patience, persistence, and excellent timing. Humans are sweet creatures, but they are easily distracted by laundry, schoolwork, phones, and other unimportant things.

That is why we have developed a simple four-step training method.

Step One: Stare.
Do not blink. Do not look away. Make direct eye contact until the human begins to feel emotionally responsible.

Step Two: Tilt Head.
This is where the magic begins. One small head tilt can undo years of human decision-making.

Step Three: Look Tragically Underfed.
Even if breakfast was served seven minutes ago, act as though you have not eaten since the pioneer days.

Step Four: Receive Snack.
At this point, the human should give in. If not, repeat steps one through three, adding a small sigh for dramatic effect.

Training may take time, but do not lose hope. With enough patience, any human can be taught to open the treat jar, share the blanket, and understand that one treat broken in half is still only one treat.

Sincerely,
Max and Mitzi
Small dogs. Big feelings. Strong opinions.

The Muttley Crew Chronicles

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The Muttley Crew News Desk

Breaking News: One treat was broken in half today. Management claims this counts as two treats.

Max and Mitzi strongly disagree.

Representatives for the dachshund community have issued a formal complaint, stating that “half a treat is not a whole treat, no matter how confidently the human explains it.”

Negotiations are ongoing.

More at 6, unless someone opens the cheese drawer.