Dear Puppies,

So far life as you know it has been very good.  The worst thing that has happened was when the humans decided you were stinky and gave you a bath.  Soon your world will be turned upside down as you embark on a brand new adventure like you’ve not yet experienced.  Very soon you will be going to your new homes! 
 

It will be very fun and exciting meeting the new people and animals in your lives.  Once you realize that you are not returning to Songdog, though, you might think you have been pupnapped.  You might miss your momma Gusty and Aunt Annie, as well as each other and the Songdog humans.  Your new surroundings may seem strange and lonely without the Songdog Sixpack of ’08 snuggling up around you at bed time.  The Songdog humans haven’t abandoned you nor have they sold you into slavery…..they bred you with the intention that you would go to other homes where you will bring much joy with your special talents, whether that be licking, fetching, barking, dancing, climbing or whatever your special talent is.  Your new people will love you and take care of you and they will take you all sorts of places:  visiting their relatives (who also may have doggies to play with), doggy school, going for walks, helping them hunt pheasants, playing agility and other cool stuff.  Your new families have been waiting for your arrival for weeks, months, some of them have waited a couple of years for you.  They are eager to meet you and hold you.
 

So fret not, dear puppies.  You are simply beginning a new chapter in your lives.  Puppy gruel is behind you.  Ahead lies people food!  The first thing you must master at your new homes is the fine art of drawing food off the kitchen counter with your eyes.  It works best when the humans are preparing meals for themselves:  sit and stare intently and they inevitably will drop a piece of cheese, a vegetable, or some sumptuous morsel that they intended to hoard for their own kind.  Dogs react faster than humans, so you can easily beat them to that tasty carrot slice that hit the floor.  Eventually, they will come to expect you to clean up whatever they drop.  It’s great!  Also, just sit and look cute and they won’t be able to resist tossing a green bean your way.  Once you prove that you will not destroy stuff around the house, they will let you sleep in their beds and on their sofas.  If they don’t allow that because of some silly hang-up about fur on the furniture, just sleep on it when they aren’t home.  If you happily greet them at the door they won’t even notice.

So you see, puppies, change is good! Life is an adventure and the world is your playground.  Lap it up.  Savor it.  Enjoy your new families --- already they love you and they have only seen pictures of you.   Then, to keep your Songdog family from worrying about you or from missing you too much, be sure to send them pictures of yourselves and updates about your activities.  You’ll still be in their thoughts and close to their hearts even though you have moved away from Pup Creek.

Best wishes, licks and tail wags from your Cousin Tillie  XOXOXOXOXO