Did any of you see the Disney animated film, 101 Dalmations?  Remember the “twilight bark,” when the dogs would bark from village to village about another dog in trouble?  Well, on Twitter this past Saturday, my friend, author Julie Klam, sent out a real-life human equivalent of the twilight bark in the hopes of finding a home for an abandoned, abused pit  bull she and her husband had found in Manhattan.  Julie is very involved in Boston Terrier rescue organizations and is a bit of a dog nut like me.  She has a great, funny and poignant memoir coming out this fall called You Had Me at Woof, and when it’s released we’ll have her on this blog for one of our fabulous book chats.

The story you are about to read is true. The names have not been changed to protect the innocent, the guilty, the insane or the annoying.

Saturday. June 19, 2010. Dog Detective Ann Leary on duty.

Time: 0920. Incident: Loaf of bread reported stolen from countertop in an occupied residence. Suspect: Blonde labradoodle who was spotted loitering in area where bread was last seen.  Owner of bread, 18-year-old female, reports that she left room for several minutes and when she returned, bread and suspicious dog had disappeared. No noticeable signs of forced entry to home, but deciding to investigate further, I discover that “doggie door” is still flapping.  Suspect intercepted on lawn, dividing loot with her shifty-eyed conspirators – a large red mongrel and a juvenile terrier.  All are apprehended. Victim is considering civil suit to cover cost of emotional damage to her soul. She was forced to have an english muffin instead of toast.  Case pending.