Sammy the Ferret says: “Get this guy a dog!” Good advice.  Lots of it. “If I ever get another dog,” Sarah tells me, “it will be a foster.”  Sherry says, “My vote is for a shelter dog.  Rescued souls are the sweetest, and usually grateful.”  Mimi, who’s all for the rescue thing, adds, “Don’t let guilt get to you . . . like, awww, I should rescue a dog.  Listen to your heart and find a pal with whom you can enjoy...

Future Dog!!!???  Are you freakin’ kidding me?  The next dog will be here “because of Ricky”? It’ll be “a tribute to Ricky”?  Any more nice rationalizations, B-Man?  I give up the mortal coil on April 7.  The B-Man publishes his “tribute” post on the 13th — earning him tears and hugs all around town, by the Still a few things on my mind . . . way.  I come back to the house in a cutesy little cedar box, complete with my “paw...

Earmuffs, Ricky I honestly think it’s okay that I’ve started thinking/talking about my next dog.  Here’s how I see it.  Had I just gotten a divorce, let’s say, or become widowed, and then I showed up with a new wife 3 weeks later . . . yeah, that would be in poor taste.  People would talk.  And rightfully so.  But with this dog situation, it’s really different.  I never had a dog till I had Ricky.  Then I had Ricky for almost 11 years.  And when he...

Ricky audits Writing Club I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned that last fall I started an after-school writing club for students at Bryant Elementary School in Bridgeport.  We’ve been meeting every Thursday since then, and some of the kids’ work appears on our blog, Is It Friday Yet?  I’ve brought Ricky in to club meetings from time to time, and the kids have become pretty attached to him — and when I had to tell them that Ricky had died, there were plenty...

RICKY WILLIAM HERMANMay 8, 2003 – April 7, 2014 This morning I drove to Southport Harbor for my daily excursion with Ricky.  Only there was no Ricky. That’s how I’ve been dealing with things since he died a week ago:  I do a lot of the same stuff I always did with him.  I go to our places, and I think, and I walk.  It’s amazing how much more ground I can cover without him tugging insistently at the leash for a sniff-fest every few feet, but I don’t get...

. . . and all I got was this lousy T-shirt! The Roof Rack Report (#roofrackreport on Twitter, for those who follow me already on @BeagleManHank) appears on Mondays, usually.  Actually, whenever Beagle Man decides to give me some space . .

Ricky’s ready I know there are still more than 160 days till I hit the road for LA/XC-4, but I find myself looking forward to my annual September cross-country drive earlier and earlier each year.  And this time around there’s gonna be a special bonus that I’m pret-ty excited about. Loyal Beagle Man followers know that from the git-go, it was my fantasy to do my road trip with my beloved beagle in my beloved Jeep Wrangler — with the top down, of course.  I spent an...

Remember that weekend last month when I had three “accidents” in the Vermont house, and Beagle Man banished me for the rest of the season?  But I knew I’d get another chance when his grand-nephew Teddy came up?  Well, this was the weekend.  And honestly — I think I would have been better off if they’d left me home.  Know what it feels like to be a third wheel?  That’s me when Prince Teddy is Which one of us looks like he’s having fun? around. ...

Beagle Man, Mrs. B, and their friends watched  this video the whole weekend and could barely breathe, they were laughing so hard.  Me, I’ve seen it at least 100 times myself — and I still can’t figure out what Cooper’s doing wrong. Click on “this video” link (above); not on this photo.  (I still need a little work on posting YouTube videos 🙂 ) The Roof Rack Report (#roofrackreport on Twitter, for those who follow me already on @BeagleManHank) appears o...

  Is he more of a “Ricky” . . . Item seen on Dogster earlier this week: When you first brought your dog home, her name was Daisy — but now you’ve been together a while, she’s more of a Digger.  Or maybe your gentlemanly Daniel has become a boisterous Danny.  Toni Perling says . . . or a “Travis”? it’s more than okay to change your dog’s name over time — now you just have to figure out how to get your pup to respond to the new...