Barkley is the December Dog of the month. He belongs to a friend of mine, Debbie, of Benchmark Retreivers. He works now as a service dog and is just a big love and so much fun to shop with. He really stops everyone who sees him dead in their tracks he so handsome. This is what Debbie has to say about him.

"Barkley", or American and Canadian Champion "Benchmark Raises the Bar", is one of generations of Benchmark Goldens we are proud of, and one of our most beloved. After overcoming cancer 4 years ago, he goes to hospitals as a therapy dog to show that he is a survivor too. He is nine years old and just the house couch potato now after retiring from a glorious show and stud career.

Olson's Parocco is the Horse of the month for December. He is a 17.5 hand warmblood who at the age of 17 is a performance star. He is trained and ridden by Jeremy Steinberg, one of the foremost Dressage riders in the country today. Jeremy's biggest goal this year was to be in the top 12 in the country and sure enough they made it. Parroco won the ODS Grand Prix Championship and the ODS Freestyle Championship as well as countless other championships. He is currently training and teaching out of my daughters barn "Traumhof" so I get to watch them ride together often. They are an amazing team. It is always thrilling to see someone do something so well it just flows and looks easy. It isn't easy... it is years and years of hard work. Parocco and Jeremy, when they do their Freestyle to music, always make me cry. They are an elegant team. I also enjoy just chatting with Parocco. I have led him in from his paddock and he is an easy friend to chat with. I hope they have another great year this next year. As Jeremy says "without the dream there is nothing". I wish them great and grand dreams.

The kitties of the month this month are Tina and Lucy, the stars and inspiration for the Rescue Me-ow Collection. Tina and Lucy were rescued as tiny kittens by the Melrose Humane Society of Melrose, MA. Tina was suffering from a club foot which needed surgery because the claw had grown into her paw pad. The organization C.L.A.W. stepped in and donated enough contributions to help Tina. Then a wonderful loving couple adopted them and they are now living happily ever after as treasured family members. They love to lounge in their window bed or in the sink or bathtub or curl up with Mom and Dad in bed. They love to play and chase and beg for treats.