It's December, 2008, And We're Lifting Our Voices In Song

One of the high points of October is always the H. H. Backer Pet Industry Trade Show. Some years, we exhibit our harnesses; other years we just go as buyers. It gives us a chance to meet old friends and also to see the latest and greatest in products for pets. Some of the products are just silly, and they tend to vanish without a trace before the next year rolls around. But there is always something new that brings a smile to our faces. This year it was a line of greeting cards from a new company called Lucy Lou And Friends. Need we tell you that Lucy Lou is a dachshund? You would expect that, but the story gets better. Lucy Lou sings, and her singing is included on music chips built into the cards.

We're going to be offering the cards for sale early in the new year – we didn't want to have them get lost in the Christmas rush and not noticed properly – but before we give you a chance to buy them, we thought we would introduce you formally to Lucy Lou herself and her folks.

Lucy Lou is a beautiful smooth black and tan girl who shares her home with Milton and Joanne, the owners of the company named for her.

Joanne is one of the oldest living survivors of bilateral retinoblastoma, an often fatal cancer of the eyes that shows up in infants. She lost one eye to this cancer as an infant, and the cancer, which had appeared in the other eye, was defeated with chemo and radiation. For 40 years Joanne had perfect vision in the remaining eye. She grew up to become an accomplished pianist and composer, with several published children's songs, choral works, and piano arrangements.

At the age of 40 the stresses of the irradiated tissue caused the vision to begin to rapidly deteriorate in her remaining eye. She is now legally blind, but has enough vision remaining to function on a limited basis. When she began to lose her vision Milton brought Lucy Lou, a black and tan dachshund puppy, home to keep Joanne company. Joanne could no longer drive and found herself often isolated at home. From the beginning Lucy was happy to sing and bring joy and companionship to their lives. Every day Lucy and Joanne spend some time singing together.

Two years ago a serious malignant tumor appeared in Joanne's sinus cavity. She had successful surgeries to remove the tumor, and during her recovery friends sent cards to show their love, and support. Some of these cards incorporated music and sound to cheer her up. She loved these greeting cards and immediately wished for a musical greeting card which featured Lucy Lou singing to music on the card.

Last year Milton and Joanne decided to try their hand at producing greeting cards depicting Lucy Lou and her friends. Both of them are musicians, and they used their skills to create original songs in varying styles for Lucy to sing along with. Each card features Lucy Lou singing to music that matches the flavor and sentiment of the picture on the card.

Lucy is eleven years old and is still finding ways of bringing joy and cheer to those who could use a lift in spirit. These cards are Joanne's way to share the positive influence of a companion who has meant so much to her life, and to bring the healing power of music and laughter to someone else.

According to Milton, Lucy Lou doesn't spend all her time singing. She has the dachshund knack for training her owners. She has devised a system where she is rewarded with a treat if she goes out of her doggy door at night, but only at night. In the daytime she doesn't feel like they owe her a treat. But at night she has a God-given right for a "business treat." Lately she has devised another system: Every evening she stands by the treat drawer in the kitchen staring at the drawer for however long it takes, sometimes an hour, until they give her a special treat. Then, once she gets the treat she runs out her doggy door and comes back in for her expected "business treat." Even Lucy Lou knows how to "double-dip."

Like many dachshunds, Lucy Lou feels the need to keep her family on their toes by not sleeping through the night. But Milton has, at least partially, outsmarted her. He keeps a coffee cup full of water on his bedstand. In the middle of the night Lucy stands on his chest and stares at the cup until he hoists it over to her for some midnight gulps. She's then OK for the rest of the night.

Appropriately enough for a dachshund featured on greeting cards, Lucy Lou has learned to sort mail. Milton and Joanne receive their mail delivery through a slot in their front door. Every evening when they come home, Lucy has already inspected the mail. She never harms most of it, but if they find an envelope that has been opened and shredded, they know that Lucy's Grandma has sent her a treat in the mail. They've never actually got to see one of the treats.

We think that you'll agree that Lucy Lou is quite the extraordinary dog in an extraordinary family. Look for her cards in our shop early in 2009. We know you'll love them.

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