Tasha’s Tails: Recollections of a Traveling Dog

By Tasha

Captured ten years ago, strolling the streets of Charlotte, NC, this spirited, adventurous Silky Terrier, continues his audacious escapades in his adopted Smokey Mountain home.

Better known as the "Mayor of Carriage Park," Tasha greets every person, dog, cat, or wild animal, as a possible source of friendship, a treat, or a pat on the head.

Encounters with bears, copperheads, deer, possums, and turkeys highlight his daily hikes, making you either gasp with dread, or chuckle at his daring.

However, it's the accounts of his relentless theft, pillage, and escape that earns him the reputation of resident pirate. Laugh out loud, or at least smile, as you cheer on this incorrigible, delinquent dog as he outwits, brawls with, and eludes his pursuers.

Like Houdini, he perfects the art of quick getaways. His destination? Any locale that offers excitement and/or nourishment. He especially relishes construction sites with the possibility of the new smells of cement, lumber, and tar, but most of all workers' desirable leftover lunches.

At home, he refines his larceny skills. Leaping two feet in the air from a standstill, he gains access to any surface, seizing otherwise forbidden delicacies--hot dogs, pasta, cookies, muffins, and candy, in addition to more ill-advised goodies like butter, lemons, chocolate, fertilizer, and peach pits. This nine-pound sleuth can steal from your purse, your lap, your suitcase, your hand, or your pocket, then race away, smirking the whole time, leaving you shocked, exasperated, but eventually delighted by his brazen bravery.

As a bonus, the reader will be treated to stories of Tasha’s long distant past. Imagine, a dog who sailed on the Titanic, toured with a circus, soared in Santa's sleigh, rocketed to the moon with Neil Armstrong, and even slept with Baby Jesus. Honest!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798823005524

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© 2023 Tasha. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

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not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Artist: Emily Hazzard

ISBN: 979-8-8230-0553-1 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-8230-0552-4 (e)

Published by AuthorHouse 04/28/2023

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Contents

Welcome to Tasha’s Tails

From Whence I Came

Heritage

On My Way

My Name

Hot Dog Dog

Go Bills!

Book Club

Escape

Tricked

My Odyssey

Downton Abbey

Go West, Young Man

The RMS Titanic

The Voyage

Collision

Thanksgiving

Rocking Roomba

Turkey Trot

Mother’s Day

The Open Road

Abandoned

My Smokey Mountain Home

Breaking Them In

My First Theft

Playing Innocent

Zucchini Bread

The Pits

Chammie

The Tasha-Bath Dance

No Coat!

Houdini

Grandparents

Decorating

Neighborhood Traitors

No Sweater!

No Raincoat Either!

Mother Nature’s Sense of Humor

Cheerios

The North Pole

Mrs. Claus

Canine Cookies

A Chain Is Only as Strong as Its Weakest Link

What ya Got Cookin’?

Diva Girlfriend

Where the Wild Things Are

Ritz Crackers

A Special Delivery

Spring

Poetry Appreciation

Illegal Driver

The Spirit of Santa

The Muffin Man

Worth Waiting For

Bear!

Land Snakes Alive!

Monkey Business

A Valentine Treat

My Shortest Run

Hiding Place

She’s Relentless

Mercury is in Retrograde

The Denouement

Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad Recipe

Gingersnaps

Homemade Gingersnaps

Gingersnap Recipe

A Perfect Storm

Trick ‘r Treat

Dog for Sale

Will Chocolate Poison a Dog?

Twofer

Embarrassing?

A Second Opportunity

The Day is Young

Ill-advised Food Choices

Tater Tots

My Circus Years

Lemons

Homemade Soup

Nutritious Smoothie

The Sausage Caper

Invalid

Prisoner

Saved by Challis

Blueberry Muffin

Sugar and Mint

Blueberry Turnover

Never Trust a Dog

Over the Moon

Outer Space

The Dark Side of the Moon

Pot

Evil Twin

Vacation

Don’t Tie Me Down

Remains of the Cupcake

All in a Day’s Work

The Race Continues

Junk Food

Distraction

On the Flip Side

Door Dash or Grub Hub

Cookie Disaster

Molasses Spice Cookies Recipe

I’m a Pirate

Escapism

Canine Brawl

Dreaming

Wildlife Encounter

Happy New Year!

Payday

A Special Baby!

Goodbye

Cast of Characters

Neighbors and Friends

Alec Hall and Neila Masiques

Allen and Lynn Brown

Cathy McMillan

Cheryl and Alex Knight

Cheryl Grace

Debbie and Bob Wood

Fran Walek

Fred and Glory Stack

Gaby Greene

Jan Allen

Jim and Mary Jane Duplaga

Joan DeMadonna

John and Anne Wright

Lorretta Canole

Marie and Joe Anderson

Mary Erikstrup

Mickie and Steve Wike

Mike Yenne

Nancy Kaczar and Becky Rowlands

Patti and Jerry Smith

Paulette and Barrie Cliff

Ralph and Ann Selle

Ray Owens

Rick and Lori Latta

Ruth and Richard Howe

Sheila Ferretti

Stephanie and David Adams

Stephanie Goodman

Sue Chait

Tim and Alysa Krell

Visitors

Ben and Karen Troutman

Dee and Philip Kridel

Don and Teresa Royer

Heather and Kraig Quinn

Parents

Romeo and Juliet

Anthropomorphic Friends

Jezebel, girlfriend

Roomba

Former Family

Sam and Louise

Animal Friends

Armani

Bindy and Riley

Challis

Chammie

Charlotte

Cooper

Fritz

Gracie

Kodi

MeToo

Murphy

Peugeot

Piper

Sammy

Dog Walkers and Caretakers

Ann and Don Saxe

Bobby Sutter, Groomer

Haywood Animal Hospital

Jenny Bradbury-Burke

Kelsey and Owen Burke

Libby VanLandingham

Mary Beth Hayes

Current Family

Elaine and Bill

Workers

Emily Hazzard, Technology Whiz

Gary True, Electrician

Hector Garcia, Carpenter

Raul Souza, General Contractor

Rigo Alvarez, Go-to Guy

Terri Kowalczyk, House Cleaner

Troy, Mailman

Friends on My Former Journeys

Baby Jesus

Circus Performers

Jack and Rose, Titanic guests

Neil Armstrong, Astronaut

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Santa and Mrs. Claus

Sibyl, Mary, and Patrick, Downtown Abbey Residents

Dedication

To all the homeless animals,

waiting to enrich lives

Welcome to Tasha’s Tails

Recollections of My Traveling Life

I’m a travelin’ man

I’ve made a lot of stops

all over the world

I’m a travelin’ man

~Adapted from Ricky Nelson, 1960’s singer

Thank you, Ricky, for providing my theme song.

As for the book title: My current name is Tasha and my tail is mostly what people see as I round a bend on my frequent escapes. Understand, I’m not really a run-away—more like a run-to. I seize every opportunity to seek freedom. As American singer, Nick Carter, says, live life to the fullest for the future is scarce.

True. I’m a dog. But Elaine says she pictures me as a seven-year-old- mischievous boy, twinkle in his eye, sporting a cowlick, missing a front tooth, wearing his baseball cap sideways.

I’m called a rescue. But rescue from what? I’ve succeeded in enjoying exciting adventures for centuries. However, self-proclaimed dog saviors like to think of themselves as virtuous. I just nod my head and look grateful.

I manage to get myself in lots of trouble. My excuse? I have boundless energy, avid curiosity, and no sense of guilt or shame.

In addition to my escapes, my other predilection is food—all kinds. I might only be ten inches tall, but I have springs on my legs. I can jump two feet from a stand still. If I find a jump-off aide—chair, stool, or couch—I can vault onto beds, counters, tables. The goal? Goodies.

I’m very sociable—sort of a politician. They don’t call me The Mayor of Carriage Park for nothing. I don’t let anyone get by me without some interaction. So if you see me strolling down the street on a leash, stop and give me a good back rub. Treats, too, are gladly accepted.

If I’m not on a leash, sprinting at a dead run, I’m on a mission.

Sorry. I can’t stop.

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From Whence I Came

If you shake your family tree, expect the nuts to fall.

~Author unknown

What kind of dog is that?

Everyone is curious about my pedigree. Elaine is just as clueless as all my former acquaintances.

"We got him from a rescue website, Yorkie Haven, so I assumed he was a Yorkshire Terrier. I’m not sure though. He has a long silver coat and almond shaped eyes. I think maybe he’s an Australian Silky."

Yadda, yadda. Humans! Always trying to figure out stuff that doesn’t really matter. Like "Do you think he’s Jewish? I mean, look at that nose." and I think they’re Catholic. Red hair, Irish, I suspect. or Big house. I think he got all his money from his grandfather.

If people paid more attention to their own affairs and less about their neighbors’ origins, who goes to which church, and how much money their friends make, the world would be a better place. But no one ever asks me because I’m just a dog and evidently a mixed one at that. However, I’ve attained some wisdom. Because you appear trustworthy, I’ll recount some of my adventures and the lessons I’ve learned over my long life.

Back to my heritage, which seems so important to humans. Yorkie or Silky? If you really want to get anthropological about it, I’m both.

Here’s how it happened:

Once upon a time in a faraway land…

Well, no, it wasn’t like that.

Instead, I was born, like Dickens’ protagonist, David Copperfield, … on a Friday at twelve o’clock at night. It was remarked that the clock began to strike, and I began to cry, simultaneously.

As it turns out, I too had something to cry about. You see, I was the product of "star-crossed lovers." My father, Romeo, was a Yorkshire Terrier. My mother, Juliet, a Silky. My ancestry stretches much further back. But I’ll begin with my nineteenth century incarnation in Yorkshire, England.

Then, pay attention. I will skip back and forth between past adventures and the present. To help you understand, I will italicize the comments of other characters.

Fasten your seatbelt. The story of my life promises a wild ride.

Heritage

I’m half-Irish, half-Dutch, and I was born in Belgium.

If I was a dog, I’d be a hell of a mess.

~Audrey Hepburn, actress

My pa was tough. Originally bred as a ratter in the clothing mills, Yorkshires don’t back down from anything—whether wild animals, thunder, or bullies. Brave. Determined. Energetic. My dad.

My mother, an Australian Silky, known today as a Sydney Silky, modeled a fine, blue/silver coat and demonstrated a joyful, friendly temperament.

I guess I’m the perfect blend of both.

Just like humans, animal breeders don’t like to mix breeds, even cousins. So my parents were confined separately.

However, nature being what it is, Romeo and Juliet struck up a fancy for one another. After a couple days of courting—sniffing and whining—my father, smitten with Juliet’s sweet personality, furtively burrowed under the fence.

You’re kidding! Juliet is pregnant! How did that happen? We agreed not to breed her until next summer.

I don’t know. I keep all our studs in the shed. There’s no way she could have mated.

Well, some dog got to her. Or I suppose this is a miracle. I think the last time that happened, a star rose in the East.

Like I said, I’m glad I’m a canine. We don’t discriminate about heritage, bloodlines, or ancestry.

Here’s the sad part—the reason I was born crying: My mother died shortly after I was born—hemorrhage they said. My father, I’m not sure. They probably sold him because he was too adventurous. Maybe he just died of a broken heart. Whatever happened, I never saw him.

Like the aforementioned David Copperfield, I became an orphan.

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On My Way

When we lose the right to be different, we lose the right to be free.

~Charles Even Hughes, Supreme Court Justice

The breeders didn’t want me. They couldn’t sell me because I was mixed—a mutt"—no value to them. (The English tout a very resolute class system.)

After hearing, "We want a purebred." And, "Isn’t he big for a Yorkie?" And, "Do his parents have papers?" I figured I was better off on my own.

Remember that fence? Perhaps I inherited my gentle, loveable traits from my mother, but my father’s curious, courageous genes dominate my personality.

Yep. Just like good ’ole Dad, I waited for the right moment. The breeders opened the