Hello, pup parents! We're kicking off fall with an especially “meaty” newsletter-a special two-month issue-packed articles about doggy day care and dogs in general. Jean is back from her well-deserved vacation, we've got a costume contest in the works and don't miss the special report about the German Shepherd named Sparky who was abandoned at the kennel. His story helps illustrate the staff's commitment to the wellbeing of every dog at our day care and kennel. We're glad you're part of our family!

Hello! It's good to be back home and, of course, to see all of our happy daycare “kids.” Kennel Manger Juli Coats, my niece Beth Clark (Liz to everyone else) and the rest of the part-time staff did a great job of running the day care and kennel while I was away. I really appreciate their extra efforts-they even continued working on our clean up while juggling everything else. Thank you, too, for your patience during the past couple of months. We truly appreciate your business and love being part of your pet's life.

I had a fantastic time traveling out West, up to Alaska and across Canada and got the best “souvenir” in Ontario-little Leise (pronounced “lee-see”). You may have seen my new “baby,” a fluffy, little Rottweiler, romping around the daycare. It's been many years since I've owned a show dog myself. After years of breeding, training and showing German Shepherds, I'm amazed at how much she's able to learn and do at just 8 weeks! I plan to eventually show her in the obedience show ring.

Tessa Sucher, a 2006 graduate of PlaceNameUrbandale PlaceTypeHigh School, started working at placeCityGreenbelt when she was a senior. Her duties include giving dogs water, taking out the trash, picking up after the dogs and moving the dog nametags from the board after they've gone home. “Mom” to a 10-year-old German Shorthair Pointer named Hallie, Tessa says she enjoys the people at work and playing with all the dogs. “I just have a great time being at placeCityGreenbelt!” she says. “It's the best place to be.”

Barb Cochrane has spent 40 years as a nurse-most recently helping patients with financial counseling at Mercy Medical Center-but for the last year we've been lucky to have her “behind the scenes” handling the advance reservations for the kennel. “I am able to work from home and like being able to help Jean and her staff with some of the paperwork,” she says. Barb and her German Shepherd, Max, still mourn the June 10th passing of Rufus, the sweet Rottweiler who was one of placeCityGreenbelt's first daycare dogs. “Max is at placeCityGreenbelt every day, and most of the time he comes home as tired as I am,” Barb says.

Our two-sister team-Juli and Jessica-continue to recommend great new hires. The latest is their mom, Pam Jarecki. Pam, who's worked at Greenbelt a little more than a month, does a bit of everything-from picking up poop and bathing dogs to laundry and occasional dog park trips. Although she's not used to working early morning, she says she likes it, especially working with her daughters. “Technically, she's my boss,” Pam says, pointing to Juli. “We've always done a lot together, so it's not strange to me.” Pam, who also is barn manager at Valley Park Stables, shares Oscar Mayer, a 5-year-old Mini-dachshund, and Penelope, a 12-year-old Dalmatian, with Jessica.

Call this one “Extreme Makeover: Dog Edition.” Not too long ago, Sparky, a German Shepherd who weighs at least 100 pounds, stayed in his single Greenbelt kennel in the back, baring his teeth, growling, snapping and barking viciously at anyone who walked by.

He was truly frightening, and I was grateful for the locked metal door between us when I toured the kennel several months ago. The kennel manager at the time said that, sadly, the dog had been abandoned at placeCityGreenbelt and that employees were scared to go near him. At the same time, Jean didn't want to release him to the authorities because he would surely be deemed “aggressive” and put down.

Recently, I noticed a fluffy black-and-tan German Shepherd playing with Jessica and Pam in the front outdoor pen. He obeyed the “sit” command and took a treat. He sniffed my hand and allowed me to pet him. When Jeremy arrived for work, the dog greeted him with a cheerful, wagging tail. As you've already guessed, it was Sparky. The same dog who had terrified kennel employees.

Sparky had been terrorizing the kennel for a year, and Jessica had had enough. One day she cleared all the dogs from the fenced back yard and let Sparky out alone with her. “I just stood there with my arms at my sides,” she said. “I wanted to see what he would do.”

Here's what they've been able to piece together about Sparky's past: He lived with an older woman in placeCityDes Moines, but when she died, he was sent to live with one of her grown children. That family apparently had an 8-year-old that slept with Sparky every night. More than a year ago, the owner brought Sparky to placeCityGreenbelt for boarding, but never returned. The staff hasn't been able to locate the owner.

Although Jean set aside money for Sparky to visit the vet, he'd been too wild to go-until recently. Pam and Jessica also are working to introduce Sparky to other dogs. His ears flop over because they were broken at some point in his life, Jessica says, and he needs to build up his back muscles, which have weakened. He's affectionate and loves his toys. As is fitting of his breed, Sparky is very protective of his loved ones.

The kids are back in school. Does your family's four-legged friend need to brush up on her lessons as well? The placeCityGreenbelt staff emphasizes good-behavior basics with all of our day care dogs. If you're working with your dog on a particular concern, please let us know. We're happy to reinforce your training efforts during the day. If you and your pup need a little extra help, placeCityGreenbelt also offers private training, either while you're at work or with you and your dog. See Jean for more information and pricing.

You can also win prizes by entering the Halloween photo contest at the Greenbelt MySpace page: www.myspace.com/greenbeltkennels. Send photos in a message on MySpace, as an attachment to an email sent to greeneltk@yahoo.com (that's not a typo; there's no “b”) or greenbeltkennels@aol.com, or drop them off at day care to have them scanned for you.

Liz says photos will be judged on costume originality and appropriateness to the dog's personality, composition (background and dog's position within the frame) and the dog's expression/body language “so have them do something goofy and show off their personality!” she says.

Put all ingredients, except flour, into a food processor and process until well-combined. Add flour through processor tube until blended and the mixture forms into a stiff dough, using extra flour as needed.

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured work surface and kneed for about 1 minute. Roll out to a thickness of about 1/4”. Cut into shapes using a cookie cutter dipped in flour. Place on greased cookie sheets. Bake for about 30 minutes or until firm and nicely browned. Cool on a wire rack. Store in a tightly sealed container or zip-lock bag.

Billed as “the largest celebration of pets in placeStateIowa,” this event has drawn more than 8,000 people in the past. Stop by the Greenbelt Kennels/Waggin' Tales Doggy Day Care booth to say “hi.” We'll be one of 80 venders offering products and services for your furry friends. You'll also find entertainment, such as equine and canine drill groups, contests and educational opportunities. (The expo has a website that isn't working yet. It's www.greatiowapetexpo.com).

Details: 9 am to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 and 10 am to 5 pm Sunday, Oct. 21 at the 4-H PlaceNameExhibits PlaceTypeBuilding at the PlaceNameIowa PlaceTypeState Fairgrounds in placeCityDes Moines. Admission: Adults: $5 ($4 for 60 and older); Children (6-12): $2; Age 5 and younger: free.

The American Kennel Club's website sums up the Pug nicely with the Latin phrase multum in parvo: “a lot (of dog) in a small space.” You'll find several of these playful, affectionate dogs at day care: Brutus, Marcus, Rocco and Nigel are regulars, as was their friend Tupi, who moved to placeStateFlorida a few months ago. Owen, Hershey and Marvin add their Pug power to day care when they're boarding at placeCityGreenbelt.

Just looking at these wrinkle-faced cuties can put you in a good mood. Pugs have a square, compact body, short, flat, black muzzles and twirly tails. The AKC waxes poetic in describing their large, prominent eyes: “soft and solicitous in expression, very lustrous, and, when excited, full of fire.”

Pugs are one of the oldest breeds, with a lineage stretching to before 400 B.C. They first appeared in country-regionChina as the pets of Buddhist monks in placecountry-regionTibet. In placecountry-regionEngland in 1572, the Pug became the official dog of the House of Orange after a Pug saved the life of William, Prince of Orange, by warning of approaching Spaniards. In placecountry-regionFrance, an imprisoned Josephine relied on her Pug, Fortune, to carry secret messages under his collar to her husband, Napoleon.

Pugs, who are especially good with children, make great family pets and watchdogs and live to please their people. They're even-tempered, extremely loyal and loving. These clever pups also can be a tad mischievous-which only adds to their charm. Day care is good for Pugs, who like energetic games and need ample exercise. Pugs also are a great addition to any doggy playgroup. They're happy, playful friends to all-humans and other dogs.

• Designer digs. A USA Today article “At Home: Doggone it, that pooch has a nice pad,” by (appropriately enough) Olivia Barker describes how doghouses are getting fancier than ever. It begins:

Forget flimsy plywood lean-tos relegated to the outdoors, Snoopy-style. Today, Buster and Buddy get 50-square-foot combination dining/napping/bathing/playing rooms outfitted with the kinds of luxuries a human teenager would envy: cable TVs (tuned to Animal Planet), DVD players (with 101 Dalmatians looped) - and separate exterior entrances.

Interior designers around the country-regionUSA, from StateCalifornia to StateArizona to placeStateTexas, are expanding their services to include four-legged clients. Read the full story: dogs_N.htm" http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2007-08-23-athome-dogs_N.htm

• Canine hero. An Ohio CBS affiliate, WTRF Channel 7, credits a black retriever, Gabe, with saving his family from a house fire. John Tedrow said he was sleeping on the couch because his younger daughter had been up sick when, early in the morning, his dog woke him.

The station's website says: Gabe barked loudly at his owner and even began pulling at him until he finally got off the couch. When he did, John noticed half his home was filled with thick dark smoke.

John told 7News that if it wasn't for Gabe's persistent barking, things could have been much more severe, even deadly. "My dog started barking and wouldn't leave me alone. He kept barking and pulling me so I got up and I saw smoke through the house and he's the one that let me know it was on fire," he said. http://www.wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=29076

• Michael Vick wrap up. After initially proclaiming his innocence, the Atlanta Falcons quarterback recently pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges for interstate dog fighting and faces up to five years in prison. (His plea deal could shorten any jail time.) There's plenty of other news in the ongoing case:

v The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and a number of other media outlets reported last week that state charges against Vick may be delayed until after his sentencing in December. http://www.ajc.com/falcons/content/sports/falcons/stories/2007/09/20/vick_0920.html

v TMZ reports that lawyers for 11 animal rights groups want Vick's canine victims to “have a say” in his punishment. The website's short story says: Attorneys for the group filed a brief they say is on behalf of the dogs "which were brutally slaughtered by Vick and his cohorts." The brief, which outlines the horrifying abuse the dogs endured while involved in dog fighting, requests that the proceeds of any fines paid by Vick go to provide care and rehabilitation for the canine victims. It also asks that any fines paid by Vick go toward establishing a no-kill shelter or sanctuary to care for abused dogs, and to fund a public awareness program designed to educate the public on the "abhorrent nature of dog fighting." The dogs also ask that Vick be sentenced to nearly six years in jail. See the brief story here: http://www.tmz.com/2007/09/20/michael-vick-case-goes-to-the-dogs/ and the court documents here: http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_documents/0920_michael_vick_wm_01.pdf

v This Tuesday at 5 p.m. StateIowa time, ESPN will convene “The Vick Divide: An ESPN Town Hall” live, in placeCityAtlanta, looking at several aspects of the Vick case. For more information, visit http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=3152.

Thank you for spending time with our newsletter. As always, we'd love to hear your questions and suggestions. Please don't hesitate to contact Kellye Crocker (info below). Meanwhile, fall is one of placeStateIowa's prettiest seasons. We hope you can get outdoors and enjoy it with your dog.