stamped the ground and pressed harder against the wooden fence. Tux had never seen such a proud, intimidating looking creature. He had never seen a horse in his life, only the humble mules who pulled the carts for the tourists back home.

"And that mah' friend," Angele told him smartly, "Is Deaux. You'll never find a better horse, nowhere! David paid dearly for 'im when he was just a scrawny little foal. A genuine registered Tennessee Walkin' boy. Mighty friendly too; little Hannah rides 'im bareback all the time."

"Called him Deaux 'cause he's only got two spots," Nicki nodded.

"Deaux is big," said Tux worriedly.

"Trust me honey, he's a big ol' softie. Just about raised the boy myself," assured Angele.

"Hey Angie! Happen to know then the Boss'll be bringing my food around?" Deaux called to Angele. The three trotted up to the fence, Tux hoping Deaux didn't mind strangers. Angele put her paws on the lowest board of the fence, "Should be right along honey."

The lanky but supple horse glanced down at Tux, eyes matching the clear sky, "Who's this?"

"Oh...yeah....I'm Tux. Nice to meet you Deaux..." he said uneasily as a velvety pink muzzle sniffed him over from above.

"He'll be stayin' with us big guy. Came all the way down from New Or-leens," Angele told Deaux.

"Well tan my hide and make me a fancy western belt.....WE-E-ELCOME HOME TUX!" Deaux whinnied. He flung his head joyously as the three trotted off along the fence line.

Angele led the way back to the farmhouse. The chickens were out in their yard, scratching in the dirt beside the barn. A mocking bird screamed curses at another from one of the garden's posts and the scent of the fresh morning grass, dripping wet with dew, tickled Tux's nose. They rounded the house and crossed through the front yard. When they reached the front road Tux stopped in his tracks.

"We can't leave the property..........can we?"

"C'mon Tux, we can go wherever we want. Now do you want to meet the guys or not?" Nicki yapped.

Tux looked back at the house, he wasn't sure. Angele began leading the way along the side of the dirt road; Tux had no choice but to follow. The three followed the roadside ditch with a little stream of water trickling through. Tux avoided wetting his paws and couldn't help but scoff at Angele and Nicki's puppy-ish behavior. They splashed through the stream after each other, barking wildly and getting water and mud all over. Tux trailed a good distance behind; after all, he had been meticulously groomed only the day before the last. It wasn't long before Nicki led them into a dirt drive of yet another tiny, raised house. Tux was surprised; on the house's wooden front porch were a pack of dogs, big and small, all sprawled out together. They were all talking among themselves when a liver nosed, fluffy-tailed Australian Shepherd spotted Angele, Tux and Nicki coming up the drive and bounded down to greet them. He was a friendly looking fellow; his coat was liver-chocolate, tan, and white all placed in the perfect spots and his hazel eyes were soft and deep. He wore a deep blue bandana around his neck and a clownish smile across his face. He slid to a stop in front of Tux, displaying a playful bow.

"Well hiya there buddy!" he barked. The shepherd circled Tux intently, sniffing everywhere and wagging his feather-duster tail as he went.

"Rip, this is David's new boy, Tux," Angele told him, "And Tux, this is our head dog, Ripley. Thought we'd let him show you 'round."

Tux flattened his ears as Ripley nudged him, "Glad to have you with us Tux. I know they're just dyin' to meet you and......."

Before the shepherd could finnish, the entire pack of dogs sprung from the porch and ran wild eyed straight for Tux. His tail tucked between his legs as the mob descended on him, sniffing and barking and even nipping in all the exitement.

"Hey.....HEY.....HEY!" Tux yelled, "Can't we do this in a civil, orderly.....?"

A lady rough collie wrapped her bushy tail around Tux's neck, "Hi there big boy. What brings a well bred looking fella' like you to a dusty old one horse town like this?"

"Heh heh, eeeasy Hanabelle. Don't wanna' scare 'im off now, do you?" Ripley teased. "Let's get down to some iner-ductions, eh?"

Tux sneezed as Hanahbelle's tail whipped across his nose. He was a little hesistant to stick around for more "iner-ductions" but once again, he had no choice.

"These here are The Girls," Ripley indicated to the three dogs hovering behind Tux. Besides the striking Hanabelle, "The Girls" consisted of a thick-boned, blue heeler/Australian cattle dog looking female, and a scruffy little black and brown terrier mix with soft, wirey fur. Ripley introduced them as Peggy Sue and Oliver. "These three ladies are the finest crooners you're ever gonna' meet," said Ripley.

"Awww Rip, don't go makin' us sound like somethin' we ain't you ol' biscuit hound," Peggy Sue laughed, "You're gonna' love it here Tux."

Tux had a lot of names to remember. There was Tyler and Charlee the feisty longhair chihuahuas, Bianca the cumbersome Jack Russell/Basset Hound cross, Bo the rat terrier, Revel the Yellow Lab/Huskey mix, Luci and Laci the twin piebald Dachshund sisters, Joshua the old black Lab, and the Catahoula Leopard Dog mixes-Splash, Mokie, Trigger and Floyd- and their mother Sammy. Tux had to explain for what felt like the millionth time where he came from, how he got here, and, as much as he'd have loved to forget it, how Ruffian had whooped his big city butt.

"She's a live wire ain't she?" Ripley nudged Tux playfully. Tux scowled, not thinking it all that funny.

"I wonder what's been keeping Ruffian so edgy lately," said Charlee. Charlee was an adorable little lap dog; she had a lovely creme and fawn coat with little baby blue bows on her ears. Tux couldn't help but think her and her golden colored partner, Tyler, the most precious things he had ever seen.

"I don't think it's particularly that difficult to figure out, honey," Bianca chortled, the slyest of grins across her face.

"What do you mean Miss B?" asked young Mokie, cocking her head.

"Wellll, you'd be edgy too if you were out all night."

"Been with Milo, you'd suppose," added Oliver. Everyone's interest was thoroughly peaked as they stood around the all-knowing Miss B.

"I wouldn't suppose such a noble thing of her," Bianca practically growled, "Probably running around with anything BUT Milo is what I'd suppose."

'Oh wonderful, just in time for Desparate Housepets' Tux thought sourly to himself.

"Mmmmmm-hmmmmm, she's certainly got the record to show for it," agreed Hannabelle.

"Oh yes," replied Laci and Luci in unison.

"And to slap the icing on that devil's cake, I hear she's not far off from her...." Bianca looked about, "H-E-A-T."

The others gasped. Tux still didn't quite sense the sevarity of the situation, and Ripley, apparently, didn't either. The shepherd was sprawled out in the dirt next to Tux, tolerating his daily dose of grooming parlor drama.

Nicki shook her head, "Wouldn't go around makin' wild assumtions like that, now. Done stirred it up enough herself, poor Ruff."

"I'm just saying," Bianca fixed her trance-like gaze on the little Min Pin, "Wouldn't be so surprised to find her with a bed full of puppies pretty soon. Not necessarily part cocker either."

Angele rolled her eyes, "Well we're headin' home. Show Tux back b-fore supper time Ripley."

She turned tail, Nicki following closely, and began down the dusty drive agian.

"Well!" snorted Bianca. Miss B, as they knew her, was a tubby old bitty. Her ears flopped over like a Basset Hound but her face was clearly Jack Russell as it lacked much of that classic droop. She had black ticking marks across her white body and a mask of black and copper brown on her eyes and ears.

"So...," Tux began, hoping to change the subject, "What do you guys do around here exactly?"

"We don't show if that's what you're wondering," smarted Revel.

Hanabelle smiled sweetly down at him "It's simple, Spots. When we aren't working, we do whatever we want. We're sort of like......"

"Strays with benifits," said Peggy Sue, wagging her stump of a tail.

"What do you mean 'working'?" asked Tux.

The entire pack burst into laughter. "You'll find out boy, you'll find out alright," cackled Joshua.

"Don't think too much of it sweetie, David's a good master. He won't throw you into a job this early," Charlie assured him. Tux still looked puzzled. The only work he had ever done was trot around the ring and bring home ribbons. It had never occurred to them that some dogs actually had to do real work.

"Take Hanabelle, Peg, and Ripley for example," said Oliver, "They're herding dogs. Me, Joshua, Sammy and her kids her are hunters. Rev's a cattle guarder. Charlee and Tyler, Laci and Luci, and Bo all take care of their families' children and Bianca, she's a world class garbage disposal."

Tux snorted, he could see Miss B shoveling down a huge pile of leftover anything. Bianca glared at him, then at Oliver, but it was obvious that she wasn't at all ashamed of her position.

"And what's Ruffian supposed to be?" he couldn't help but ask.

"None of your business!"

Ruffian came from behind him, whipping angerily past then gretting Ripley with a friendly sniff. He stole a glance at Miss B but, like a professional gossip, she showed no expression. None of the ladies did.

"What's going on Rip?" she asked.

"Just briefin' Tux here on a few things. I'm sure you two have.......met......before." Sweet old Rip was definately not good at this.

"Yes," she muttered, looking over her shoulder at Tux, not daring to answer how she would have liked. He wagged his tail back at her. If he was going to stay in this looney bin he might as well try and make nice with Her Edgy-ness. Ruffian quickly snapped her attention back to Ripley.

"Well then, you've got your paws full. I'll just head on home, no sense in my being around to......"

"Nonsense Ruff, you'll stay with us. We were going down