Mutt Mysteries

Pound Signs, Number Signs, Octothorps – Hashtags are ways to make your posts part of larger lists. If you search for a hashtag on a social media site, you’ll find lists of related posts. Here are my favorite dog (pet) ones for Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter: #adorable #animalfriends #bark #barkinthepark #cutedogs #dog #doggo #doglove #doglover #doglovers #dogoftheday #dogs #dogslife #dogsofig #dogsofinstagram #dogsofinstaworld #dogsofRVA #dogsrule #dogstagram #eyes #funnydogs #guiltylook #happydog #howisthatcomfortable #ilovemydog #imhungry #instadog #instapet #Jackrussell #jackrusselllovers #jackrussellsofinsta #jackrussellsofinstagram #JRT #JRTlove #JRTofInstagram #love #lovedogs #mutt #muttmysteries #mydog #odddog #officedog #paws #pawtytime #perro #petoftheday #petsofinstagram #petsrule #petstagram #playwithme #pupflix #puppyeyes #pupsquad #sideeye #sleepingdog #sn...

  Mark Twain said, “To get the full value of joy you must have something to divide it with.”            My granddaughter has a new friend.   Her name is Celeste.           We don’t know much about her past because she’s adopted, and we have practically no information on her. She was taken from an abusive home and put into foster care. She may be one or two years old. She may have had puppies. She’s a bit skittish around men and vets. But she is getting better every day and she is loving her new home.           My granddaughter is an only child. I think the pandemic has hit these kids particularly hard. They have home school by Zoom, a house to play in, plenty of toys, lots of parental attention, but no one to play with. Play dates have to be carefully arranged and time-limited. Enter, a dog. Celeste, you have a job to do and you’re going to love it.     ...

  Today, I am blogging about Mutt Mysteries and my protagonist Catt Ramsey. The Mutt Mysteries began a few years ago when four authors Jayne Ormerod, Heather Weidner, Rosemary Shomaker, and I met to discuss writing a dog themed series with four novellas. Since this group has been in several anthologies together over the years, we knew we had what it took to write a fun series. Plus, each author had dogs and loved animals! We began with To Fetch a Thief , book one in the series which featured “Four Fun Tails of Theft and Murder.” This was a great beginning as we promoted the book, did book signings, and introduced our readers to mutts and mysteries, a winning combination. Plus, we donated some book proceeds to animal organizations. It’s also where I introduced Catt Ramsey, Owner of the Woof-Pack Dog Walkers and her pups Cagney and Lacey who helped Catt solve crimes and right wrongs. To Fetch a Scoundrel , book two in the series included “Four Fun Tails of Scandal and Murder.” ...

The list of National Holidays runs the gamut from the somber Memorial Day to the silly Old Rock Day (seriously, it’s a thing—celebrated in January.) We here at Mutt Mysteries recognize as many of the dog-related ones as we can find. (Be sure and follow Mutt Mysteries on Facebook and Twitter so you can keep up with them all.) Look for the upcoming Hug your Dog Day (April 12). Mark your calendar for Rescue Dog Day (May 20), or Pet Remembrance Day (July 5) or Dress Up your Dog day (Jan 14, 2022. And that’s the short list over 150+ dog-specific or pet-related national days. But celebrating dogs doesn’t have to be limited to holidays specific to our canine companions. Just about any national day can be combined to also rejoice with the unconditional love and attention given to us by our mutts. Case in point, the impending National Oreo Cookie Day (March 6, 2021.) On that day we should, of course, enjoy an Oreo or two in recognition of America’s number one cookie. But also consider giving ...

I started making a list of pet peeves and it grew. Originally, I was brainstorming ideas for why someone would commit a murder or a crime, but it was cathartic to write them all down. Some are humorous, and others make me go, "Grrrr!" Here’s my list: ·          People who leave grocery carts in parking places instead of returning them to the corral  ·          People who leave two squares of toilet paper for the next person ·          People who leave an empty box or container on the pantry shelf ·          People who talk on the phone in a public restroom ·          People who see that the copier or printer is out of paper and walk away ·          Telemarketers, especially those who call me at work on my cell phone ·  ...

      Since many readers love a good dog related mystery, this genre has become a winning combination for mystery and dog lovers alike. Readers are now purchasing books and their audio version based on the mystery and canine together.         And as a mystery writer this is a fun duo to write about. By adding dogs in the Mutt Mysteries series, it adds more interesting characters to each story. For instance, my protagonist, Catt Ramsey who owns the Woof-Pack Dog Walkers is always running into trouble in each book and stumbling across dead bodies. But with her Yorkshire Terriers Cagney and Lacey by her side, they help sniff out clues and alert Catt to dangerous situations, including murder. I always try to grow the dog’s interaction with the characters in each book.      Since I am an animal lover with dogs of my own, one thing I don’t do is harm animals in my stories. Readers do not like that and neither do I! But it is...

My friend Sadie wants you to have a very happy Valentine and she reminds all of us that puppies need love too! They certainly mustn’t eat the chocolate in those beautiful boxes, but there are plenty of ways to show your love on this special day. I personally dislike peanut butter spread on dog bones because of what it does to the rug, but there are some easy ways to make treats that have your own special touch.  Here’s my favorite recipe for Easy No Bake Treats:   Ingredients:      Canned pumpkin.      Plain Yogurt      Peanut butter.      Bacon (sautéed until crisp and crumbled)      (Notice I’m not giving you exact amounts. Use your own judgement.) Directions:      Mix first three ingredients, form into small balls, and roll in the bacon. More ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day: Take your dog for a walk and stop when he wants to. Let him sniff as long as he ...