One day, a scrawny pup strutted into our lives, looking like she had just survived a flea circus. Her belly was about to burst with puppies, and her tail was playing hide-and-seek. At first, I was like, "No way, not today, mutt"!

Initially trying to shoo her away, she sensed my reluctance and later discovered food and water on the porch. She spent the night in a box on the porch, then moved to the garage, bathroom, guest room, and eventually ended up at the foot of our bed, where she now rests comfortably today.

Often, after I make the bed, she burrows under the covers and positions herself to rest her tiny head on the pillow each morning.

* When a friend first saw this dog, he said, "Gosh, that poor dog is "Ucking Fugly"!  We couldn't have given her a more appropriate name!