And it's fall, beautiful fall!

My fellow Americans,

First, I'd like to welcome our new friends from Our Place. They make my Mom smile a lot.

We've been busy around here. As many of you know, my Mom has a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis, and it got way way worse for awhile. But now she has a new doctor, who's working hard.

And she's going to get one knee made better soon! We're all so excited!

I'm hoping that Bran, our handsome German Shepherd, decides to start his page. Like me, he was a rescue, and boy, did he need us.

When we got him he was all scrawny and scared a lot. Someone had been very mean to him! They'd kept him tied out on a chain in all kinds of weather.

And--he didn't talk! He never made a sound! Mom explained to us that the mean people had put one of those horrible SHOCK collars on him to keep him quiet! Not only is that cruel, but we dogs are supposed to protect you by alerting you! And our peoples need to teach us what to alert on.

But oh, poor Bran. The meanies who had him also never changed his collar, so he outgrew it. When he got rescued, the nice lady told Mom, the collar and the shocking things had grown into his skin, which was all hurted, real bad.

So he was afraid to make a sound. And if Mom yelled at say, Freddie the Brat Cat--cute kid, but a brat--Bran would run and hide. If she picked up a broom, he'd run and hide.

So, it took awhile for him to understand that around here, we love and hug and we don't hit. But he still didn't talk at all.

Then, finally, he started talking about six weeks later! Just a little at first! And finally he got up the courage to bark now and then! We were so proud of him!

Mom taught him stuff, too, like sit and wait and "easy." Now he helps her get up when her knees hurt real bad. I offered to help, but she said something about me not being big enough.

What??!! I'm BIG!

But Bran--named for the Celtic god--now weighs 106 pounds. He's almost as handsome as me! (Just in a different way, of course.)

We taught him how to play. When he came here, he didn't know how. Mom's still working on getting him to carry stuff and to bring a ball back. But he loves playing with us!

Mom and I are considering whether or not I should run for President of the United States next time. She says I'd be great. But I worry that she'll overdo--so we're all thinking about it, real hard.

Our three cats are busy being their own crazy selves. Bran gives them back scritches if they want. They taught Bran to do that, because Winnie used to do that for them.

Our only sad news: Roddy, the once-upon-a-time feral cat, who Mom rescued, passed away awhile back. But he went quickly, and he lived a long, happy time with us.

Time to go! Mom has stuff to do, even though she's really good about typing for me.

Remember everyone--tell everyone you love that you LOVE THEM! Give 'em a big kiss and tail wag, too.

A cookie in every paw, a wag in every tail,

Owain

Honoring pet rescues

Wow! Lots going on around here. My mom is sick with pnew-moan-ia. We're looking after her real good.

But she insisted on writing this story about drawing attention to pet rescues by naming the new Space Station node after a real hero, a pet rescue named Rin Tin Tin:

http://www.examiner.com/x-504-Space-News-Examiner~y2 009m3d18-Yo-Rinty-Name-space-station-node-to-honor-pet-rescu es

Please go read. She tells you how to go to the right place, write in Rin Tin Tin & vote!

When Mom gets feeling better, our new German Shepherd guy, who's almost as handsome as me, and very sweet, will start his blog. He survived very bad stuffs before being rescued.

Then Mom & I went to visit him and knew he was OUR family! We like each other. He loves our cats, too.

And he's crazy about Mom. Me, too.

Owain's Message to America

Ladies and gentlement, boys and girls, friends all,

First, let me say that I am glad to be back talking with you. Mom and I had a tough time after we lost Winnie.

Mom also was busy rounding out 2 years of leadership in a community organization. And, she had to go to the people vets a lot. She told me that they will have get her arm fixed in an operation in the hospital! So she is making plans for that.

Which leads me to health care. My fellow Americans, our health care system, for humans, dogs, cats, horses, birdies, is in sad shape. Our health care costs us too much.

My mom wrote about a lady who was denied treatment for her leukemia at the M.D. Anderson center until she came up with $45,000 cash in advance! Then when she borrowed that money and went to be admitted, they demanded $60,000 more!

This is not right. People, doggies, kitties, should be taken care of when they're sick.

When I am elected president, I pledge to work on the health care system. I am very concerned that millions are spent on drug users with all kinds of programs, but working Americans who get sick just get swept right out into the street. We must stop these bad practices.

I will immediately create a Department of Good Health. I will institute programs where specialists go out to look at hospitals, doctors, and clinics and make sure that people are being taken care of first, and the paperwork second. As any parent of a puppy will tell you, there's a time and a place for paperwork, but paperwork is not the most important part of your day!

I will reclaim monies spent on big jets and big parties for Congresspersons and big Administration officials.. I'm sorry, but it's time for the party to stop. If a Congressperson wishes to travel outside of the same travel we all use, they can provide it for themselves. And there will be NO freebies from lobbyists and big companies!

My Mom always says that the best cookies are the ones we earn. We Americans have been giving away our future in cookies to anyone with a title who just wants one.

No more! Everyone working in my administration will be expected to know the basics of their job: come, sit, stay, lie down and rest, fetch, take, carry, etc.--and to do them well. That's the bottom line.

Thank you for visiting with me. I have one more thing to say:

I am tired of hearing people say "God d* America." That is no way to talk about God! And that is not something you should say about America!

God BLESS America! And if you think differently, then someone in the world is bound to get a leg up on you--and your country.

So please think it over before you go spraying hatred and anger all over the place. Mom says that cleaning up the normal everyday messes is one thing, but cleaning up the messes left by hatred and anger is an almost impossible job.

I'm asking you this: will you join me in cleaning up the messes of hate and anger? Will you join me in saying God BLESS America?

Owain Glendower,
Owain for President

My Campaign Gains Momentum!

We are excited here in Owain Glendower for President campaign headquarters!

So many people have told us they will vote for me! The ladies at the bank--who always have cookies for me at the drive-through said that I had their vote! We went to Atwood's, and everyone we talked to said they wanted to vote for me!

And now we're reaching hands across the water--our good friend Vince from the Nottingham area of England has agreed to serve, if her Gracious Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, agrees, as England's ambassador to the U.S. As Her Majesty is a noted Corgi fancier, I think she'll agree after I'm elected!

We want to hear from you! What issues are important to you?

Your candidate,
Owain Glendower
"A wag in every tail, a cookie in every paw"

Missing WinWin

I hope everyone is having a good St. Patrick's Day. Mom and I haven't been back to visit here for awhile because, she says, it's too hard.

She's OK for a little bit, then she's not. When she's sad, I'm sad too. We miss WinWin so much.

Roddy the cat keeps cuddling up to me now. Mom says he wants his back scritch but I don't know how to do that. Mom says she's sad now that she never took a video of WinWin doing that with her kitties.

Mom says we have to grieve. I think this is hard work. Mom says we won't rush into getting another family member, but frankly, I think she needs a German Shepherd.

And I wouldn't mind having a big friend.

Owain

A Lot to Learn

Boy, we miss WinWin. I won't go lay on her big bed in our bedroom yet. Maybe she might come home? But Mom says no, she's at the Rainbow Bridge.

But I like laying on the big shared bed where we snuggled before Mom had to take her to the hospital. Still smells good, like her.

Mom says that now I'm in charge. I've got a lot to learn about being in charge, like all the things to do. I've been following WinWin's lead, you know.

So I'm taking a little break from my campaign for President of the United States. Right now I need to focus on taking care of Mom and the kitties. Mom really needs extra TLC.

Besides, the human candidates are really snapping and growling at each other these days. I don't like that. I won't campaign like that! WinWin and Mom taught me better!

Owain Glendower, in mourning

We Are Sad

My Fellow Americans and Friends Everywhere,

Yesterday, our guardian, and my bestest friend, next to Mom, had to be taken to the hospital. You can read about it in WinWin's diary.

Mom talked to the doctor this morning and poor WinWin couldn't walk or run or sit up right or anything any more. So Mom said it was time for her to go to the Rainbow Bridge and meet other family members already there, even some she would just be having first tail wags with.

Mom said that she wouldn't allow WinWin to suffer or be sad or be embarrassed because she couldn't take care of herself personally any more because she couldn't walk. She said that sometimes love is about letting go.

We love WinWin a lot. So we let her go.

But I'm sad. Yesterday I just wanted to cuddle up with her on her bed. When Mom came home alone, well, I've just been spending my time on that bed. It still smells like her.

I'm lonely for her. I know Mom is too.

Owain

I've been tagged!

Please vote for Owain Glendower in the World's Coolest!

I've been tagged by: Hogie, AKA Hogan's Our Hero

Here are the rules:
Because it’s Thanksgiving time, there is a change to the rules. Each player needs to tell seven special things they are thankful for. Tagged dogs must post the rules in their diary and their 7 things. Then choose 7 pups to tag and list their names. Let them know by pawmail or rosette that they have been tagged and to read your diary for the instructions on how to play.

7 things i'm thankful for:

1. My mom and love, love, love, love!
2. WinWin my German Shepherd bestest friend!
3. Our kitties!
4. Diane Myers & Corgis n Critters for taking me in and matching me up with my Mom and our furry family! I'm so grateful to be HERE, with my Mom!
5. Treats, treats, and more treats, my toys, and my Kongs!
6. Car rides and walks
7. The days when my Mom, who has rheumatoid arthritis, feels better! Actually that should be #2!

I am tagging:

Polly
Miss Murphy
Kipper
Otto
Corbu
Bandit
Queen Isabella

I'm Running For Coolest in Smiles & Grins!

My mom is so silly! But we love her!

She thinks I've got the ultimate "I'm so happy" Corgi laugh. So she entered me in the "Coolest" in Smiles & Grins.

You can vote for me here:

Please vote for Owain Glendower in the World's Coolest!

We've been busy voting for the other cute doggies!

I've got to go. While Mom was messing around here, the green beans on the stove she's cooking for our supper started to boil. So I had to come get her, with WinWin, and tell her to hurry back to the stove!

Always take good care of your humans, young dogs!

Owain, Candidate for President of the United States of America

Owain for President: The Long Summer & Its Lessons

My friend Americans & friends everywhere,

We've had an unusual summer here, and I have been thinking about what Mom calls "the environment". Our town had a big flood, the second worst since 1944.

Mom reported on the flood and took lots of good photos. Of course, I went along to help and look after her. It's very important, you young dogs, to make sure that you always help out your humans, because they need us.

We had to take some of our photos through the window while driving. So, when Mom told me, I hopped out of my front seat and into the back of our car and laid down. That way, she could take pictures without my head being in the middle of them, and also she knew I'd be safe. And with me along, I knew that no bad people could bother her.

We were lucky because our house and neighborhood didn't flood. But seeing what happened to people here has made me think about helping people out. I'm planning a major change in America's executive agencies, and I'll talk about that later.

And we also need to fix our political party system. Mom, WinWin, Hoppy, and her friends have been talking about that. And I have an idea, which I want to go over with Mom, to help fix that, too.

We hope to have a new campaign website up soon. Right now I have been spending my time learning about things and thinking about solutions. And because I don't have a lot of money, we decided that we would let all those other candidates talk a lot first, and wear themselves out. Then when the field gets smaller, there'll be a spot for a little guy like me to squeeze into!

A cookie in every paw!

Owain, your Candidate for President of the United States of America