Samantha Sivils & The Love Shack Pack

Who is in the photo at right?

I am Samantha Sivils. I'm a God fearing, blissfully married, therapy dog handling, proud homeschooling, Mississippi momma of four, and a freelance writer and photographer. In my spare time, I volunteer with our local animal rescue league. I serve as Education Chairman for the shelter and enjoy working in our community teaching youth about bite prevention and being a responsible dog owner.

Our family owns a total of seven dogs - five Golden Retrievers (Scarlet is seven, Cosmo and Rose Bud are two, Kudzu is six months, and Boondocks is five months) and two Morkies (Ohno is almost two and Joy is one.) Cosmo, Rose Bud, and Joy are primarily the children's dogs while my husband and I share Scarlet, Boondocks, and Kudzu. Ohno is all mine!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I begin each day with a cup of coffee. The dogs are always curled up nearby. It is a fabulous way to get my day off to a wonderful start. For this special occasion, I am brewing my coffee with an extra scoop, letting it cool a bit, and then throwing it into the blender with two cups of ice, a bit of creamer, and some Splenda. The heat index is 108 right now, so I prefer cold to hot.

What's brewing?

Folgers’s Simply Smooth.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Yep, the dogs are enjoying Bil-Jac's PB-nanas treats that we only break out for special occasions or training sessions.

How were you and your dogs united?

Scarlet was our first Golden Retriever. She was a gift for my husband. I often refer to her as 'the other woman' because she and I both like to think he belongs solely to each of us. Cosmo was my son's gift for his seventh birthday. They have been BFF's ever since. My daughter purchased Rose Bud with her allowance she had saved. Ohno was given to us to be trained as a therapy dog. Who knew the only person Ohno would actually serve as therapy for would be me! He is afraid of the rest of the world's population. Joy was given to my oldest son after he attended our rescue group's first summer camp and came home wanting a dog of his own. I saw Boondocks picture online. It was a case of love and first sight. We went to meet him the same evening and brought him back home with us that night. And then came along sweet, Kudzu. At four months old, Kudzu's former owner left him for several days only to come home and find him tangled in a hammock. Kudzu's leg was badly mangled. He took him to the veterinarian to be put to sleep. Fortunately, the vet was able to talk the man into surrendering him. They were able to amputate his leg and save his life. The shelter we volunteer with heard of his plight and referred us to them knowing we love Goldens as we do. We couldn't turn him away.

How did your dogs get their names?

Scarlet was named because of her red coloring and my love of Scarlett O'Hara's character in Gone With The Wind. We brought Ohno home the night Apolo Ohno won his 7th USA medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Boondocks was named after seeing his picture online, before ever meeting him... it just fit. Kudzu grows on everything it touches and since our pup has that same effect on people, we chose for him to share the name with the vine. Our children named Cosmo (my son loves all things about the solar system), Rose Bud (my daughter named her after The Buddies). After a difficult situation Joy joined the family. The Bible says that sorrow may last for the night but joy comes in the morning. So my son chose the name as a reminder that even when bad things happen, there are still good times waiting to be had.

Do your dogs have a favorite place to go for a walk?

The Morkies just want to hang close to home. The Golden Retriever's do not care where we walk as long as they get to go! They do have a preference for any place that includes any size body of water.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

The Morkies love cats. (Ohno even has a t-shirt that reads: CAT - THE OTHER WHITE MEAT.) I spend half of my day everyday trying to convince them to spit out their feline sister, Serendipity. The Goldens?? Just keep the tennis balls coming, y'all!

What is each dog's best quality?

Scarlet is a working therapy dog and all of her qualities make her the world's best at what she does. She has that unconditional acceptance of all people that puts even the most heartless person at ease. She has a heart of pure gold.

When we gifted my son Cosmo for his birthday, it was with the hope that Cosmo would make him feel more complete. Being the third born child and the second of three boys, Isaac suffered with middle child syndrome. Cosmo has perfected all that I'd hoped he would accomplish. He has been Isaac's devoted companion and buddy since the day we brought him home, and we have witnessed Isaac's personality bloom as a result of their relationship.

Rose Bud's best quality is her uncanny ability to keep us laughing at her neurotic behavior. She always leaves me with plenty of stories to write about that usually involve someone being humiliated but with wonderful, comedic twist.

Ohno is the perfect lap dog and my most constant companion. Ohno lives in my shadow and fills my heart with love.

Joy is so very protective of our children. If we ever had a home intruder, our five 50 pound plus Golden Retrievers would most likely lick them to death while Joy, and Joy alone, would take them down with all four pounds of her fierce self!

Boondocks is still so much a puppy - a huge, goofy, clumsy puppy that makes me smile a hundred times a day. For now his best quality is just being who he is - a huge, goofy, clumsy puppy.

Kudzu's best quality is in large part because of his disability. People seem drawn to him in a way I've rarely seen anyone react to an animal. Because most people feel “broken” to some degree, they relate to Kudzu on a more personal level. Folks can't seem to get enough of him. And Kudzu responds by showering them with love and affection.

If your dogs could change one thing about you, what would it be?

They all make it known every single day that they wish I was a morning person. And every single day, I fail them miserably.

What's each dog's proudest moment so far?

Just before my youngest son's third birthday, he snuck out of the house one night and took Scarlet with him. Scarlet stayed close and would not allow police officers (or anyone else) near him until they made it back to our yard. Scarlet also tested for CGC and TDI with my husband, daughter, and me all in the same day and passed with all three of us. From what we've been told, that is a rare occurrence.

Cosmo's proudest moment? Every moment that Cosmo spends with Isaac is a proud moment for us. Seeing the bond they share is the reason that every boy needs a dog to call his own.

I was most proud of Rose Bud last week when she took part in our summer camp's parade of pooches through downtown Brookhaven. She completed the parade without incident - and that is a first!

Ohno and Joy do not have specific jobs like the rest of the gang. Their very presence gives me happiness and peace. And that makes me proud of both of them.

Boondocks and Kudzu won first and third place in an obedience competition with my children handling them last month. Yeah, I had a goofy smile plastered on my face for hours. It was great!

The most embarrassing?

We were walking through a street fair last fall when all of a sudden Rose Bud had a bout of diarrhea. My husband and I and our four children were walking through the main thorough-fare with five dogs when all of a sudden Rose Bud lost all control of her bowels. We must have walked for ten feet before we realized what was happening. By that time mothers were grabbing children and running, folks were hollering “don’t step in it” and “oh, it smells horrible“, and I was dry heaving. All the while my husband is frantically searching for a nearby vender with paper towels, and I’m trying to steer the traffic around the artistic display our crazy pooch has left for all to see. We ended up having to use the t-shirt Rose Bud had worn to finish cleaning. Once the road was cleared, we headed straight to the van and left. (Refer back to proudest moment of Rose Bud’s life to understand in more depth.)

Visit The Love Shack Pack blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Janet Bolin & Laddie and Lacy

Who is in the photo at right?

I’m Janet Bolin. I write the Threadville Mystery series for Berkley Prime Crime. The first book, Dire Threads, came out in June. The second book comes out in June, 2012, and the third in June, 2013.

The brindle and white dog is Laddie. His sister, Lacy, is the black and white one. We’re sure they’re littermates, of mixed parentage that probably includes border collie. They’re almost five years old.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

I usually have my coffee at my computer before the dogs wake up, but if I take it outside, they come, too.

What's brewing?

I like Costco’s home brand, which is actually from Starbucks. I grind the beans immediately before brewing the coffee, and I make it strong, very strong, and add skim milk to whiten it a little.

Any treats for you or the dogs on this occasion?

The dogs will get treats when they go inside. They prefer something meaty.

How were you and Laddie and Lacy united?

They were discovered trembling together on a cold day in January and taken to a very nice rescue facility where they had plenty of outdoor exercise with other dogs. Some folks wanted to adopt one or the other of them, but they are totally devoted to each other, and the rescue facility insisted that they had to be adopted together. We we saw them on Petfinder.com, fell in love, and adopted them when they were about a year old. And they are great dogs—easygoing, friendly, easy to please.

How did the dogs get their names? Any aliases?

The rescue facility named them Lad and Lacy, and we kept the names, but Lad immediately became Laddie. I gave the dogs in my novels names that fit Laddie’s and Lacy’s fondness for exploring.

How have Laddie and Lacy influenced your writing?

Lacy lies behind my desk chair so that I can’t roll it back and escape from my computer. I have to keep writing. Or checking email or playing Solitaire (and oh help!—I just discovered Free Cell)... And dogs are very good at helping my protagonist find things like injured people or clues to murders.

Do Laddie and Lacy have a favorite place to go for walk?

We live on several acres in the country. They love rambling about with us. When we visit folks in the city near a dog park, Laddie won’t settle until he’s been taken to the leash-free park to meet other dogs. Lacy goes along, but mostly stays close to her humans.

Rabbit, postman, cat...?

Rabbit, raccoon, cat, possum, skunks, deer, goose, ducks ... If it runs (or waddles), they chase it. Fortunately, postmen don’t have to be herded.

What is each dog's best quality?

Laddie is an athlete. He floats like a ballet dancer.

Lacy tries to look after everyone, especially young animals. Both of them are perfect pets.

If Laddie and Lacy could change one thing about you, what would it be?

They would have me outside walking with them about ten hours per day. That’d be about right.

What is each dog's proudest moment so far? Most embarrassing?

Proudest moments: Laddie caught a rabbit and gave it to a visiting dog of whom he is extremely fond. Lacy learned to climb a wooden ramp with gaps between the slats.It was so steep it nearly qualified as a ladder.

I’m not sure they have ever been embarrassed, but they should have been the second time skunks sprayed them.

What are their greatest fears?

When we first got them, Laddie was afraid to ride in a car, but he has conquered that fear, mostly. Lacy is terrified of the sound of smoke detectors.

What have they learned?

Lacy has learned that chasing bird shadows is a fairly fruitless pursuit. Laddie has learned that riding in a fast, open motor boat is super fun.

Have they solved any mysteries?

They solve them every day, but even though they sniff intently, they never tell me what passed by recently.

Learn more about Dire Threads, and read an excerpt.

Visit Janet Bolin's website, Facebook page, and Twitter perch.

--Marshal Zeringue

Kathryn Miller Haines & Mr. Rizzo and Sadie

Who is in the photo at right?

Mr. Rizzo (always Mr.) is the mature gentleman on the right. He’s a boxer mix who just passed fifteen. We’re pretty sure he’s going to out live us all. The dame on the left is Sadie, a three year old German shepherd mix. This is one of the few moments when she’s been captured standing still. It will be a miracle if she makes it to four. And the two foot terror is Gryphon, our newest “puppy.” I’m Kathryn Miller Haines, the pasty broad in the middle. I write mysteries set in World War II New York. My newest book is a YA mystery called The Girl is Murder.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Typical day at the Haines’s house, where sleep is always in high demand thanks to busy work schedules, Mr. Rizzo’s nighttime bladder issues, and a very active toddler.

What's brewing?

Tea, today Tazo chai. Always drunk in the same mug.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

They’ve just enjoyed their breakfast bones, their morning reward for doing their business promptly.

How were you and your dogs united?

Both are Humane Society pups that we got when they were six months old. The day we went to get Mr. Rizzo, we actually intended to get another dog, but we were told we needed to get a copy of our deed to show that we were home owners and were allowed to have a dog. By the time we got back, the dog we were going to get was gone. My husband found Mr. Rizzo in his cage hidden by the open door to the kennel. In all our dog deliberations, we’d never even seen him. Twas fate.

We shopped for Sadie on the Humane Society’s webpage (both hubs and I caught each other scanning the dogs available page despite our best efforts to close the browser window so as not to get caught – yes, the Western PA Humane Society page is porn in our house). It was our way of healing our heartache after our dog Violet died quite suddenly from a kidney disorder. On the online photo, Sadie was a dead ringer for Violet (though as anyone who’s tried internet dating should know, she looked nothing like her in person). We brought Mr. Rizzo, who like us, was heartbroken at Violet’s loss, to meet her prior to adopting her, and he got the goofiest look on his face that seemed to ask “can we keep her?” Alas, he’s regretted it ever since.

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Both of them came with their names. We have no idea if Mr. Rizzo’s moniker was an homage to the former mayor of Philadelphia, Midnight Cowboy, or Grease, though we suspect it may have been all three. We did add the “Mr.” as he just demands a little formality and respect. And a cravat.

Sadie is also known as “potato” because she’s small, brown, and loves to be in the ground. That’s why we have a fence. And a moat.

Have your dogs played any role in your writing?

They’ve warmed my side, attempted to crush my laptop, listened to me talk to myself without judgment, and given me comfort at every turn. I couldn’t write without them. They’re as integral to the process as my laptop.

Do your dogs have a favorite place to go for walk?

Anywhere. Too frequently it’s endless rounds of our block since these days we’re negotiating a stroller with the canines. But they’re happy with any excuse to leave the house. Mr. Rizzo’s stamina isn’t near what Sadie’s is these days, so he’s usually content with going once around the block before retiring to his feinting couch.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

Mr. Rizzo enjoys badger and rabbit. Sadie has proven to be quite lethal to birds and mice. We think she was a cat in another life.

What is each dog's best quality?

Mr. Rizzo is the most gentle dog I’ve ever known. In all of his fifteen years, there’s never been a moment when anyone needed to fear him. This has never been more evident than in his interactions with Gryphon. Patience, thy name is Rizzo.

Sadie is extremely affectionate. While Rizzo can be a bit standoffish at times, Sadie loves to cuddle.

If your dogs could change one thing about you, what would it be?

My vegetarianism.

What's each dog's proudest moment so far? The most embarrassing?

Proudest moments? There are a lot, but for Sadie, I think it’s helping us all to heal after we lost Violet. The little clown cut that grief with a knife.

For Rizzo? I’ll never forget his tenderness with Violet when she was dying. You can’t tell me dogs don’t grieve.

As for the most embarrassing: our house backs up to some apartments. Rizzo escaped when he was a pup, entered one of the apartments via an open patio door, and plopped himself down on the couch. The owner was showering at the time, so my husband had to enter this stranger’s apartment and coax an obstinate Rizzo into leaving with him.

For Sadie? Um, me breastfeeding. Her curious. ‘nough said.

If your dogs were literary characters, who would they be?

Mr. Rizzo – Sebastian from Brideshead Revisited. Sadie? Something Suessian. Perhaps the Cat in the Hat?

Visit Kathryn Miller Haines's website and blog.

Writers Read: Kathryn Miller Haines.

--Marshal Zeringue

Dorri Olds & Buddy James

Who is in the photo at right?

Hi, my name is Dorri Olds. I’m a native New Yorker born on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I work in my home/office in Chelsea as a freelance writer and web designer.

The photo is of me standing in my building’s large private garden holding my beloved hairy son, Buddy James, a 7-year-old purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel imported from Germany.

What’s the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Every morning is a coffee date with my canine. I open my eyes to Buddy, and my fiancé Steve, sleeping peacefully [photo left]. I sit up and Buddy’s head pops up like a periscope and he leaps from the bed to shadow me to the kitchen.

What’s brewing?

I make my eye-opening cappuccino with 2 shots of Lavazza espresso, and cinnamon and chocolate powder sprinkled on top.

Bud stares at me watching, waiting. He knows that after my first sip he gets to eat.

Any treat for Buddy on this occasion?

’Lil Bud gets plenty of daily eats, but during the morning coffee ritual he over-acts. He likes to portray starvation. It’s so adorable I toss him a pre-java treat, usually a Milk-Bone [photo right].

Once I’ve placed his food bowl on the floor, within seconds he has inhaled his Science Diet beef breakfast then runs back to bed for Steve to rub his belly. When I sit down with my cuppa joe and a banana, Buddy rushes back to my feet. I serve him stringy pieces of banana from inside the peel.

How were you and Buddy united?

Buddy came into my life on New Year’s Eve of 2003. He was 2 months old, weighed 4 pounds and looked like a Beanie Baby. Brendan, my friend, knew she would break my heart when she broke the news she was moving to the West Coast. To soften the blow she bought me Buddy.

Does Buddy have any influence on your work?

Yes. If I’m at my computer in work-trance too long, Buddy trots over, plops down and makes this weird whimpery sound that means, “Hey! What am I, chopped liver?”

How did you come up with Buddy’s name?

He was named after my Uncle Buddy, a portrait painter who died when I was 5. Growing up, I spent hours staring at his self-portrait on the wall of my parent’s home. Now the painting hangs opposite my bed where I see it every morning.

Buddy’s middle name came from my childhood fantasy. I yearned to be filthy rich, own a Rolls Royce and have a chauffeur named James. My dream was to say, “Home, James.” The chauffeur never materialized, nor did the millions, but I what I got is love. I never knew I’d treasure anyone to the depths I do little Bud-Bud. His dark brown Bambi eyes and soulful ’tude made me christen him the lovechild of Rhythm ’n Blues singers, Buddy Guy and Etta James.

Does he get along with, or get especially agitated, by cats, squirrels, postmen...or some other creatures?

The Budmeister gets along with everybody. I enjoy bringing him along for an afternoon coffee in my garden. He sticks close by hoping there will be something to lick from my cup [photo left].

He greets neighbors’ dogs cheerfully, watches birds and squirrels with mild interest, but really perks up for humans. Bud’s a people-person.

What are his favorite toys and/or games?

He’s fond of cigarette shaped rawhide treats and enjoys them even more if I try to grab them out of his mouth. He’ll growl and yank the treat away from me, but if I lose interest in this repetitive game he lets out a “humph” then nudges my hand until I resume.

Where is Buddy’s favorite place for outings?

Our typical walk covers a few city blocks during which he wags his tail, sniffs trees and hydrants, and tries to swipe food remnants—no matter how congealed and disgusting—off the street. He attempts to be sneaky by closing his eyes into beady slits, tucking his mouth down to hide the forbidden scrap of food, then hunching over like a cartoon villain. He gives himself away every time and I’m left to yank the bacteria-ridden morsel out of his mouth and toss it into the trash. Wherever we go I stuff my pockets with plastic bags and tissues.

Is he a city dog, or does the country appeal as well?

As long as we’re together, Buddy is happy anywhere. We both enjoy my Aunt Norma’s house upstate. It has a large fenced-in yard so he can run around and piddle wherever he pleases. He usually hangs around near me though, either by the pool or at my feet during Scrabble games. He can’t stand not being able to see me.

At home he prefers doors open so he can follow me around. Using the word “heel” with him would be silly and unnecessary.

Who are Buddy’s best pet-pals?

Thankfully, Buddy’s godmother Brendan moved back to NYC a few years ago. Bud’s best friend is her Cavalier, Harry Rex [photo above right]. He also loves my Aunt Norma’s golden retriever, Zack, who isn’t golden—he’s blonde [photo left].

What is Buddy’s best quality?

I can’t choose just one. He’s devoted and loyal, mischievous and entertaining, snuggly, cuddly, and beautiful to look at.

Bud makes friends everywhere. He’s enthusiastic and gleeful 99 percent of the time.

What is Buddy’s proudest moment? His most embarrassing?

Buddy feels neither pride nor shame. I’ve witnessed a number of emotions: joy, fear, disgruntledness (if that’s a word).

I once asked my cousin Charlie what he imagines Buddy is thinking.

Charlie guessed, “I love you, I love you, I love you. Got something to eat?” I think Charlie nailed it.

Keep up with Dorri Olds at her website, blog, Twitter perch, and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue

Elizabeth Speller & Erwin

Who is in the photo at right?

That's me, Elizabeth Speller, and my dog. I write poetry, books on history and travel and, more recently, novels set in the 1920’s. My dog is an eight month old Hungarian Viszla, his name is Erwin. Viszlas (or Vislak, correctly!) are very loving and are scarcely ever more than a few inches away (some people call them Velcro dogs). When they are at any distance they are 100% energy and bounce a lot. Mostly they believe they are lap dogs. This was OK when he was a puppy but is becoming more overwhelming!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Erwin believes he shares every part of my life. I wouldn’t yet trust him in a coffee shop but he likes to pretend to relax next to me in the garden as I have my summer’s day coffee in the hope I’ll put my mug down within tongue reach.

What's brewing?

Nespresso. I choose entirely on pod colour – I love the dusky pink pods and deep sinful purple ones, cream ones and a summery sky blue. Not keen on bile yellow or the unattractively cold dark green. Mornings I have cappuccino. Later I have decaf espresso (deep terracotta): Erwin likes it too though is not allowed to have it. He also likes the discarded pods and I am often to be found with my hand deep in his mouth retrieving them.

Any treats for you or Erwin on this occasion?

My treat is sunshine and the paper but I feed him chews to distract him from what would be his greatest treat: trying to share my coffee or eat the newspaper.

How were you and Erwin united?

I shared rooms at Cambridge with a friend who was training to become a Vet. She is now qualified and breeds Viszlas and offered a puppy to me as she knew I was looking for a new dog and she said his hair was the same colour as mine.

How did he get his name? Any nicknames?

After Erwin Schrödinger – the Hungarian physicist (being a Hungarian dog). I am not sure his genius is reflected in my dog’s psyche (though he may be biding his time) but quantum mechanics is a bit of a mystery to me too.

Does Erwin play any role in your writing?

Distraction, mostly. He tries to climb on my lap and when he succeeds bashes his great paws on the keyboard. He also eats my reference books given half a chance.

Does Erwin have a favorite place to go for walk?

I live in the Cotswold hills in the west of England. We can walk straight from my garden through a wood with an ancient Roman spring and, in May, lots of bluebells, and on into valleys full of challenges (squirrels, partridge mud, badger setts, rotting things) for a growing dog.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

Wily postman carries dog biscuits and Erwin’s attempts to be a cat-vanquisher have come to grief with my very old stiff cat who chases him off, sits on his chair, eats his food and generally shows him what’s what in the matter of power dynamics.

What is Erwin's best quality?

His affectionate, gentle nature and his handsomeness.

If your dog could change one thing about your children, what would it be?

That they would share their Haribou.

What's Erwin's proudest moment so far? His most embarrassing?

Proudest moment – catching a fly.

Most embarrassing – (apart from causing me to explain to American Express that he’d devoured my card) he chewed up my daughter’s Kindle. I was all set to deny it was him but as someone who writes mysteries, had to accept the tooth-marks were a pretty incontrovertible clue.

Visit Elizabeth Speller's website.

Her new (in the U.S.) novel, The Return of Captain John Emmett, is now a Richard & Judy Book Club featured book.

Speller's second novel, The Strange Fate of Kitty Easton, a mystery set in 1924, in the ancient landscape between Stonehenge and the Savernake Forest, is available now in the U.K. and arrives in the U.S. in the coming spring.

--Marshal Zeringue

Helen Brenna & Ebby and Charlie

Who is in the photo at right?

I have pictures of me and lots of pictures of my dogs, but none of my dogs with me. Ebby [photo right] is a 10 ½ year old Flat-Coated Retriever who loves winter. First snowfall and she’s rolling around in the flakes like a little kid making snow angels.

Charlie [photo below left] is a 5 year old Australian Shepherd. He’s supposed to be a miniature, but does he look miniature to you?

I'm Helen Brenna, novelist.

What's brewing?

I know this is crazy for this blog, but would you believe green tea? I love coffee, but it doesn’t love me.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

My dogs are spoiled silly. They get coffee, er tea, with me every day! But I guess the occasion for being here, specifically, is to celebrate the release of my three latest Harlequin Superromances, The Pursuit of Jesse, Her Sure Thing, and Redemption at Mirabelle, coming out in July, August and September.

Any treats for you or your dogs on this occasion?

Vet nixed the treats for Charlie as he has a few pounds to lose. I sneak a few to Ebby when her little bro isn’t looking! As for me, I’m sipping champagne. Harlequin, my publisher, sent me a bottle just yesterday to congratulate me on winning Romance Writers’ of America’s most prestigious award, the RITA, at the national conference in NYC in July! (Well, at least I plan to be sipping it once happy hour rolls around.)

How were you and your dogs united?

We lost our beloved Vizla, Mia, to cancer when my kids were 11 and 6. That was tough on all of us, but my kids couldn’t stomach the idea of another Vizla. My daughter, who can recite every breed of dog backwards in her sleep, talked us into a Flatcoated Retreiver. The breeder picked Ebby for us, and we’re so, so glad she did. Charlie came into our home when my son spouted out that he wanted to train a dog. After much discussion about breeds and responsibilities, we settled on an Australian Shepherd. (Mom wanted a smart, easily trained dog since she wasn’t all too sure son would hold up his end of the bargain.) Voila. Charlie!

How did your dogs get their names? Any aliases?

Dog names come about by family consensus in our house. The only name both kids liked was Ebby, short for Ebony Pearl. My daughter now think that sounds like a stripper’s name, but, hey, I still like it! Charlie was a tough one. I wanted Chuck, but everyone else hated that name. When no one’s listening, I secretly whisper in his ear.

Have your dogs played any role in your writing?

The hero in my third Mirabelle story, a horror writer, needed a dog. Jamis had isolated himself on the island after he believed he’d caused the car accident that killed his wife and two kids. I knew from page one that only the puppy had survived that accident. Snickers was the first dog character I’d ever written, and it was really fun. So easy, too. When you’ve had dogs your entire life, their habits are second nature.

The biggest role my dogs play in my writing, though, is the break we take for walks at the off-leash dog park. Here’s a picture of them just this morning, as a matter of fact, at that park. They don’t know it, but as they sniff around in the weeds they’re helping me solve plot problems.

Do your dogs have a favorite place to go for walk?

Actually, they’re favorite thing in the world to do is swim at the lake and retrieve water dummies. Charlie, though, is allergic to something in the lake water, so we only go when it’s too hot for walks. Walks at the off leash park are a close second to a swim.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

LOL, all of the above! Ebby is pretty typical when it comes to doorbell ringers and such. Charlie, though, is obsessive (Aussie, remember?) about going after squirrels and rabbits in our backyard. Can’t believe that darned squirrel will still every once in a while risk climbing onto our deck to get at the birdfeeders!

What is each dog's best quality?

Ebby is a lover, the sweetest soul you could ever meet. Charlie is a worker, vigilant in his devotion to protecting me and our family. He lays at the top of the steps outside my office, day in and day out, making sure I’m safe.

If your dogs could change one thing about you, what would it be?

I love this question. They would make me independently wealthy, of course, so I’d never have to work and could play with them all day every day! And, hey, I wouldn’t complain.

What's each dog's proudest moment so far? The most embarrassing?

Interesting to think about this.

I guess I’d have to say Ebby’s proudest moment is the day she learned to leap, and I do mean leap, from the end of a dock and into a lake. That girl gets so excited about water that she can almost fly off the end of docks. Her most embarrassing moment? She’s a tall dog and we had issues early on with stealing things off the countertops whenever we left the house. My husband read about a sure-fire fix. Set a jelly roll pan full of marbles on the countertop, a couple inches of the pan sticking out over the edge of the countertop, and then leave the house. We came back a short while later and marbles were all over our kitchen floor. Ebby wouldn’t come out of the porch for hours. Never had a problem with her snitching things off the counter after that.

Charlie is a very confident, proud dog, so it’s impossible to think of one moment in time. The moment I was most amazed by him, though, happened last summer when I was working upstairs at my computer. All of a sudden, my son, who was playing video games, yelled out in alarm. I ran downstairs to find a hairless, eyes-still-closed something squirming on the carpet next to my son and Charlie a few feet away watching over it. Turns out it was a brand new baby rabbit. Charlie had very carefully carried that baby, completely unharmed, inside and set it beside my son. I think so that we would care for it. If he’d wanted to harm it, Charlie could’ve swallowed it in one bite.

I went out into our fenced in backyard and after much searching found an empty rabbit nest in the middle of our raspberry patch. I’m not sure if my outdoor cat got at the nest and left a stray or if Charlie found it himself and figured the poor thing had been abandoned. I was told that a mother rabbit will come back for up to a week to find a missing baby, so I put the thing back in its nest, kept the dogs and the cat out of our backyard and by nightfall the mom had come for the baby. Hope so, anyway! Hey, I write romance, so the story has to end happily ever after!

Charlie is, like many dogs, afraid of fireworks, but I think he sees it as a terrible weakness. Every fourth of July, after the first firecracker goes off, he looks up at me, his ears down, as if to say, “Sorry, Mom, I just can’t save you from that.” Poor baby.

Visit Helen Brenna's website and blog.

--Marshal Zeringue

Lynne & Brian

Who is in the photo at right?

This is Brian, my 8 year-old Boston Terrier. I'm Lynne, and work as a 911 Operator/Police Dispatcher in Charlotte, NC. Off-duty I enjoy anything related to the outdoors, especially gardening. Much of my time is spent working on my 75 year-old bungalow just outside of Charlotte and spoiling Brian, but occasionally take off on my Kawasaki Z750s for some much needed speed and scenery therapy. I started a blog for the bungalow project so my out-of-town family and friends can keep up with what I'm doing.

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Since I have to be at work at 7am, I don't take much time in the mornings to sit down and relax before the commute. On my days off, Brian and I spend breakfast on the front porch while we plan our day.

What's brewing?

I have black coffee or English tea while he chooses the perfect sunny spot for a nap. He's discovered the serenity of a rocking chair, whether he's alone or in my lap "sunny-side up." I have to be careful where I sit the tea or else he'll sneak a sip.

Any treats for you or Brian on this occasion?

My treat is the serenity of being out in the country, away from the sights and sounds of Charlotte. Brian gets to be "SunnyBrian" which is a treat in itself, and he may get a nibble of my fruit or oatmeal.

How were you and Brian united?

Brian was adopted from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control in November 2004 after being brought in as a stray. The veterinarian guessed he was about a year-and-a-half old, but he was only thirteen pounds despite being a tall boy. The first time I saw him, I cried so hard at how withdrawn he was; he wasn't even treat responsive. He seemed glad to see someone, but was really scared and smelled like a dirty horse and his coat was horrible. I sat in the floor with him in the visitation room, and held him to closely my chest and talked to him. He stopped shaking and dozed off for a bit, seemingly comforted. I took a few days off from work upon his adoption, to help him get acclimated to the other Boston in the home and to try and pull him out of his shell. As soon as he walked into the house, he stretched, shook head-to-tail and acted like he'd always lived there without an ounce of shyness. It was like bringing home a totally different dog than what I'd witnessed at the shelter. He knew he was home. He quickly gained to a healthy twenty-one pounds and grew a beautiful shiny new coat. To this day, I'm sure he remembers being held at the shelter and comes to me when he's tired or upset and wants to lie down on me, always on his left side with his head on my chest.

How did they get Brian get his name? Any aliases?

Brian's full name is Brian Jesse and was named for the two supervisors working on the day he was adopted; Bryan and Jessica. I decided to change my Brian's spelling to make it easier. He has a ton of nicknames but the most common are B and B-R. Those were started as a way to talk about him without his knowing, but he picked up on it. There are drawbacks to having a smart dog!

I understand Brian recently had some neck surgery. How's the recovery going?

He's doing extremely well! He was diagnosed with Canine Intervertebral Disc Disease and had surgery within two days of the onset of his symptoms. A neurologist with Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Matthews, NC performed the surgery on cervical discs 2-4. We couldn't be happier with the outcome! Brian is almost back to his regular playful ways but has to be reminded to calm down since his rehab and recovery will be ongoing for some time. The incision is on the front of his neck and took eleven staples, so he'll have a sexy scar to show off to the ladies. Who knows what kind of story he'll make up to go along with it. Unfortunately, I think he's seen the end to his vole hunting days, since the vigorous digging won't be good for him. He's earned another nickname of Bionic Brian since part of him had to be rebuilt and reinforced. This incident also made me especially appreciative of having a health insurance policy on him.

Does Brian have a favorite place to go for walk?

He loves the rare visit to my mother's house in Tennessee where he can watch the cows and horses. He's fascinated with her Percheron, Kate. She's so big I swear he could fit half into her nostril. I think he feels a kindred spirit with the cows since he looks like a mini-moo, himself.

You ride a motorcycle: ever think about getting a sidecar for Brian?

I don't. While it would be great to take him on rides, his safety is far more paramount than having him with me on the bike. I occasionally see someone with their dog on the back of their motorcycle or scooter and it really infuriates me (even though one of the dogs I've seen did look pretty cute in his leather outfit and turtle-shell helmet). It makes me wonder if the motorcyclist is doing it more for attention rather than the simple joy of having their buddy with them. Our dogs' safety is our solely our responsibility and I could never forgive myself if I crashed with Brian and he was injured or killed. A sidecar would be fun for him, no doubt, but I just can't do it. Heck, he even has a booster seat to secure him while he's in my SUV. Call me overprotective, I guess.

Squirrel, postman, cat...?

Yelling "Squirrel!" always gets his attention and has from the very start. My boyfriend cracked up the first time he saw a serious reaction to shouting "squirrel" where Brian can go from a full sleep to high alert in about half a second. He said it was like a Whack-a-Mole. Brian's learned since living in a more rural area, where he doesn't always have to be on a leash, not to chase the squirrels. If I tell him, "No, easy" then he's content just watching them. Still, just the mention of the word "squirrel" even in normal conversation makes him look around suspiciously. Brian absolutely abhors cats and I have to do a "cat check" for the neighborhood stray if he's going out unleashed but, like the squirrel encounters, he's learning that "No, easy" or "Leave it" applies to cats, too.

What is Brian's best quality?

His intelligence. It makes him very easy and enjoyable to communicate and interact with. He understands so much of what I or others say to him. Boston Terrier owners are well aware of their dog's intelligence and sense of humor but I like to think Brian's still above average. It's impressive how easy he is to take with me wherever I can because he is extremely well-behaved and easily adaptable to his surroundings. He isn't one of the hyper/bouncy/overly-stimulated Bostons so his being laid-back definitely helps when he's in public. And, he's having to learn some new routines since the surgery, including using steps to get onto and off of the sofa and loveseat instead of jumping. He also can't sleep with me anymore for the same reason so he has his new "big boy" orthopedic bed beside my bed. His smarts are making the transition much easier to break the almost seven year's worth of jumping where he wanted. I think he understands, though, and is adapting well.

If Brian could change one thing about you, what would it be?

He would change my location to live closer to his Granny (my mother). She talks to him over the phone occasionally and mails him gifts so he's quite aware of exactly who she is despite her being eight hours away. Sometimes when I'm going to call her, I'll ask him, "Wanna call Granny?" and his ears go way up and he gets the head tilt and gets all wiggly as soon as he hears the word "Granny."

What is Brian's proudest moment? His most embarrassing?

I can't think of a single proud moment that stands out but his pride is obvious with each new trick or skill he learns. Six is his magic number; I can show him six times how to do something and on the seventh time he will do it on his own. The look on his face and the way he sits up or struts around proudly when he shows me he can do what I wanted is so precious. Brian's most embarrassing moment was a few years ago and I would have paid a week's salary to have gotten on video. He's a very fast runner and where I used to live has a sloped back yard. He had gone out to potty after a hard rain and the grass was slick. After finishing his business, he took off like a streak down the back yard toward the house, but lost his footing. He was going so fast that he couldn't get stopped and slid down the hill on his side into a muddy area and crashed into a loose straw bale. When he got up, he looked around as if to see if anyone saw even before he shook it off. I ran over and picked him up to make sure he was okay but was also laughing unbelievably hard. Fortunately, he was fine but had red clay mud all down his left side and it was even in his ear, mouth and nose! It was like witnessing a sprint car that lost control and was probably a whole lot harder to wash!

Visit Lynne's Laura's Legacy blog.

--Marshal Zeringue