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(EDIT: Just recently renamed series. Nearly halfway finnished, OMG! Will most probably be a PG, though the others in the series will be a little darker)

I've begun work on my first series entitled "The Boondogs". This first part is the story of Tux the pampered show dog Smooth Fox Terrier's introduction to farm life in rural Lyonelles, Louisiana and to the interesting band of dogs living there. I'm hoping it'll turn out better than I have it planned right now

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"Wh-wh-what's going on? This isn't part of my schedule!" the black and white terrier barked. He was presently being coaxed into a travel kennel by a flustered, heavy-set man. When coaxing wouldn't work, the man tried stuffing the dog into the carrier. But the resistant terrier only splayed out his legs and refused.

"Come on.....in you go....." the man strained, giving a shove that sent the dog slamming into the kennel.

"Watch it, ugly!" the dog turned to snap.

But the kennel door was quickly shut, locking the terrier in a prison of plastic. He lay down with a huff and placed his finely shapen head on his dainty, showy paws.

"There must be a mistake here, my water therapy isn't until 10," he grumbled, "The Mister will straighten this out."

The room surrounding the kennel was a picturesque foyer of elegant French architecture. There was warmness in the color of the wood floors, the royal red walls and the wrought iron accents adorning the staircase to the upstairs. Indeed it was elaborate for a simple entrance and to Tuxedo the fox terrier, it was the entrance to the luxury that was home. So many lonely days spent traveling the dog show circuit, being felt on by judge after judge, switching handlers so quickly it would make an inexperienced dog pass out; Tux would never show it but he was glad to return home after a long show weekend and eager to return to his regular itinerary. But now he was being loaded up again and had no clue of where he was to be taken.

An exquisitely dressed man entered the foyer with the heavy-set man following behind.

"I just don't know Mr. Madisan. He did seem awful sore about getting in. Think you should reconsider?" the heavy man knelt down to the door of the kennel and offered a hand to Tux through the metal bars. Tux growled and snapped, making it clear that he was not open for consolation.

"Nonsense Howard! I'm sure the poor fellow is ready for an early retirement. He's been so deppressed lately, I think the circuit is sucking the life out of him," Mr. Madisan told Howard. "He'll love Lyonelles and the family I'm sending him to is a respectable one. He's served me well and it's time he found what a real dog's life is like. See that they have all the proper comforts for him when you get there, Howard, and have an easy trip yourself."

Mr. Madisan tapped the top of the carrier twice and wished Tux a quick farewell. The terrier clawed at the kennel door, desparate to return to his spot on his favorite silken couch and sleep the day away.

"Come back here and get me out of this thing NOW!" Tux barked.

But Mr. Madisan had long since retreated into the sitting room with no intention of returning. Howard grabbed the handle of the crate and whisked Tux out the door to an awaiting luxury car.

"B-b-but I can't LEAVE, I'm booked up with studding appointments and show clinics and massage therapy and....... please please please take me back!" Tux whined loudly.

The car door slammed shut and they were soon moving through the busy New Orleans streets. Tux continued to whine, never stopping a moment for silence.

"Poor fella', he must think he's being shipped off to another show," Howard told himself.

"You idiot! Do you have any idea how many females are on my waiting list? Nevermind showing!" Tux growled.

Before he lost his voice completely, Tux halted his string of high-pitched protests to accept the fact that no matter what he did, the crate would not be opened to his old home's welcoming foyer ever agian. His stomach churned with worry and his shiny black ears drooped; where were they taking him?

For three full hours they traveled, but not once did Tux rest. Rest was impossible when there was so much to wonder and worry about. Finally the passenger door was opened and Tux's leash was clipped to his sleek designer collar. He was led out to find a quint little white house, raised on brick stilts and surrounded by waving oak trees bustling with squirrels. The yard was littered with children's toys and the porch looked quite inviting with its rocking chair and shaded concrete floors, cool despite the smeltering heat. The air was different here than what Tux was used to breathing. It was sweet and had a million new scents flowing through it; he could hardly take them all in. Howard led him up the little steps and onto the concrete porch. Before the door lay a dusty doormat with the worn words "Wipe Your Paws" across its bristles.

"How charming," Tux muttered, rolling his eyes.

Howard gave the door a knock. It was opened by a little blonde haired girl about nine-years-old dressed in muddy jeans and a smudged purple t-shirt. She squeeled at the sight of Tux and ran to fetch her father. He met them at the door and exchanged a few welcoming words with Howard. All the while, the little girl persistantly tried to pet the adgitated Tux.

"What is this, some kind of redneck daycare center?" he rasped when she finally caught him by the collar. She pulled him close in a tight hug, kissing his velvet ears and stroking his black saddle-marked back. The father, who was a brawny looking man, knelt down to take a look at his new dog. The father caressed Tux's head and scratched behind his ears while he was still trapped in his daughter's arms.

"Will he hunt?" the father asked.

"I beg your pardon!" Tux barked.

"He might have a little hunt in him.......somewhere," Howard told him, unsure. "You could try to train him."

"Like him Hannah?" the father asked the little girl.

"Oh yes sir, yes sir! Can we have him Mister Howard, can we?"

Howard chuckled, "Of course you can dear; he may take a little time to warm up to a new home but he'll come around."

Tux finally broke free of the little girl Hannah's embrace and quickly hid behind Howard's chunky legs.

"Kim!" the father called inside. A kindly-faced woman came to the door. Tux could tell it was the little girl's mother by her zealous reaction.

"Isn't he darling! Look at those sweet little eyes! Oh, he's gorgous, David!" she exclaimed, fondling Tux's ears.

"We'll have him then, I've got the check right here," David told Howard with a grin. He exchanged the check for a folder full of Tux's papers. Howard handed the little girl Tux's leash, nodded to the family and was soon dissapearing into a cloud of gravel and dust. For a long moment Tux was parylized with fear. The only traces of the life he'd always known had just sped down a dirt road, far out of sight and likely never to return as far as he was concerned. What had just happened? The thought astounded him...... he was ditched. In the blink of an eye and not a second more he was somebody else's dog.

This is really good! Maybe Tux will handle this well, maybe not. Can't wait for more. Keep writing!

Thanks! I've got six other parts planned out for this series already, it's been something I've been wanting to do for a long time.

Here's the official summary for "Farmer's Dog"-

Part one of my first series: Tuxedo(aka Tux), a pampered New Orleanian Fox Terrier, finds himself in the middle-of-nowhere town of Lyonelles, Louisiana after being sold by his owner to a small rural family. He soon discovers a wiley pack of canines, both stray and pet, allowed to roam freely and their footloose lifestyle; among them a pigheaded female Jack Russell Terrier named Ruffian who isn't thrilled to have a male intruder in her home. Tux must leave his privileged life behind him to try and fit in. But when he finds himself playing the enemy to both the pets and their allies, a small band of strays-thanks to a vengeful spaniel dead set on having Ruffian as his mate- he must find a way to earn their trust again or leave.....for good. When the strays' lives are put in jeopardy by his own master for a crime they didn't commit, it is up to Tux and Ruffian alone to save them from certain anihilation.

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It'll be more of a romance than anything, probably PG but that may change. She's coming along nicely though and I hope to have it done by the end of this month.

That's good to hear! I look forward to it. With the full summary, this is a must read in my book!

Ooh, sounds great! A very unique plotline, I must say, and it's coming along nicely.

-anticipates update-