Mele Kalikimaka from the beautiful island of Pawgaritaville. Our location is on the many islands composing French Polynesia. Life here is paradise. Warm weather, a gorgeous beach and a great little bar that is home to our bi-monthly pawties. We have a friendly vibe and a chill atmosphere, perfect for getting together with friends. On Pawgaritaville, you will never be a stranger for more than one day.
On December 20th, we held our annual Christmas pawty on our beautiful beach. As always, the pawty began with our traditional toasts. The initial toast honored Over the Rainbow companions, following which, absent companions received a toast. We also had a special toast to the animals still waiting for their forever homes.
Our Quiz Mistress, Sassy, @3phibotticelli, began with one of her trademark holiday quizzes. All the participants had a great time. What followed was a wonderful evening of holiday music provided by our talented DJs and island-influenced food and drink served up by our barktenders and created by @Kittehboi. Friends came and soaked up the atmosphere of our Christmas in paradise. When the last note left the p.a. system, the last of our guests either made their way home or slept in one of our villas on the beach.
If you desire to experience Pawgaritaville, the next pawty occurs on February 21st. We hope to see you there.
Tag: dogs
Quote: Christopher Hitchens on Cats
Owners of dogs will have noticed that, if you provide them with food and water and shelter and affection, they will think you are God. Whereas owners of cats are compelled to realize that, if you provide them with food and water and affection, they draw the conclusion that they are God.
— Christopher Hitchens
Animal Holidays and Observations December 28-January 3
The only December Animal Monthly Observation is:
National Cat Lovers Month
Daily holidays during the fifth week include:
• Dec 28: Endangered Species Act Day
• January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day
• January 2: Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
Anipals Read
Hi pals! Pumpkin here. I have something fun to share with you. Did you know we have a book club? It’s called Anipals Read (#readpawty).
Around 2011 or 201212, @MaggieTKat started #Readpawty. We’d all read the same book and meet once a month to talk about it. Of course, sometimes we strayed from book talk and caught up with each other, but mostly we really talked about the book. We’d meet on Twitter and use the hashtag #readpawty to keep the conversation together.
Well, it’s been many years, and #readpawty has evolved. We now meet on the second Tuesday of every other month (February, April, June, August, October, and December). We still meet on Xtwit, but since Xtwit’s gotten harder to use, we meet in a DM group. Sometimes, we don’t pick a book for all of us to read and discuss, but talk about what we’ve individually read since we last met.
We also use it as a set time to meet up. We’re all very busy anipals, and are online at different times, so we rarely get to connect. This way, we know we’re going to see each other at least once every other month.
We also have a group on Goodreads called Anipals Read. I keep a bookshelf there that lists everything we’ve read as a group since 2013. There are also suggestions there of books to read.
If you’d like to join #readpawty, even if it’s just to hang out with us, email me your Xtwit name. I use email to send out announcements, and I’ll need your Xtwit name to add you to the DM group. Hope you join us!
You can find me on Xtwit as @pumpkinpuddy. I’m also on FB (Cheryl Katz), Bluesky (pumpkinpuddy.bsky.social), and Discord (pumpkinpuddy), but I’m mostly on FB. The easiest ways to reach me and be sure I see it are email or FB Messenger.
Nipclub, December 18, 2025 Sekurity Update
Thursday, Dec. 18th, Nipclub. It was a Brunchmas Pawty theme, which was the purrfect pawty for all the weary souls trying to get everything done before Christmas! The pawty had a somber beginning as Pearl (@Tinypearl) beloved fluffy orange cat, Butterscotch, had gone over the rainbow bridge. They dedicated the party to her memory. Panfur Louis (@psiangelic) is filling in at the bar for Pearl so she can be with her family.
Upon parking the spaceship, I caught an intruder close to the parking zone entrance. DJ K-Boi @Kittydaboi has the night off, so Gator (@RealFakeGator) said we might have an open mic. Moo (@moothemousecat) was feeling a bit harried, and P and Jeego (@SeattleP) were watching the Seahawks play the Rams in the Sports Lounge, hoping the Seahawks would win, of course. Apparently, the Seahawks aren’t playing well. (They ended up winning!)
Moo and I are having a cocktail together while I watch through the window, ever diligent in my search for security risks. I spotted an interloper right outside. It’s been a silent evening so far, with not much to report. Raven (@Indulgedfurries) showed up with a gorgeous photo of Cosmo the pup and Butterscotch together. Cosmo went OTRB recently as well. It’s tough to lose two anipals so close together. We’re sending Pearl good energy. We’re just hanging out, not talking much, while I watch the Sekurity system video feed on my phone, just in case a spammer shows up. My taser is ready just in case the need arises, but I’m feeling subdued tonight.
Caught another sekurity risk right after the toast to Butterscotch and Pearl. Got him with my taser, and he folded like a cheap Temu lawn chair. I put him in our jail cell and went back inside the bar. There were luscious chocolate mousse cakes and vibrant red poinsettia cocktails waiting, while a few friends came in and out.
Finishing the evening, Louis presented a spectacular Brunchmas buffet; I sought a to-go container as I departed. Leftover noms for tomorrow! Sekurity risks captured tonight: Three.
Until next week.
Slinky (@Slinky_the_Cat)
Animal Holidays and Observations December 21 – 27
The only December Animal Monthly Observation is:
National Cat Lovers Month
Daily holidays during the fourth week include:
• Dec 27: Visit The Zoo Day
TJ and Bart: Christmas Tree!
Bart: Good evening, Anipal Times readers! Here we are, TJ and Bart!
I’m Bart. Why is your name always first, TJ?
TJ: Dis is TJ. Bart, what difference does dat make? I think it’s because I’se a better-looking doggo.
Bart: WHAT????
TJ: Never mind, Bart. Let’s get to our subject tonight. Christmas trees.
Bart: Dis is a very important subject. Chwistmas Twees are stwange to us doggos
TJ: Yes, stwange. I mean, when we go outside to be walked, our hoomans know what we do with twees.
Bart: And our hoomans like it when we do dis. But not with dese Chwistmas trees.
TJ: Dat is stwange. And why are dese twees brought inside da house?
Bart: And da humans put all this stuff on it. Dey put decowations and lights on da twee, which is stwange. They never put dis stuff on twees outside.
TJ: And they put this…little barn with these plastic figures on it. Dey say dis is da baby Jesus.
Bart: It’s da weason for da season. Twees look nice. But when we go around dese Chwistmas twees, hooomans get nervous. Why?
TJ: Don’t dey know that we going dere to make a wish to Santa? For us to get more tweats for Chwistmas?
Bart: I mean, we had ‘accidents’ dere once or twice, but no one is perfect!
TJ: Dat wight! Okay, let’s close.
Doggos, just be careful when your hoomans bring in da Chwistmas twees. But, it’s still okay to have fun.
MEWWWY Christmas from TJ and Bart!
Flying With Lucky
Flying with Lucky#TheAviators Festive Flight Turns into a Rescue Mission!
Hello everyone. Welcome to flying with Lucky, where I keep you up to date on happenings with #TheAviators flying club. I have been a club member for 12 years; 5 of those years as the leader.
On Sunday, December 14th, #TheAviators took off on their annual festive flight from Toddy Furrington Airport in Bearford.
The flight began with Captain Rocky nicking my flask of tequila for a little liquid courage. (I taught him right). A large group of doggos and meowers took to the skies over Bearford and jetted 10 days into the future. The Christmas Eve tour headed southeast to London. The lights of Piccadilly were spectacular.
The tour went to Dublin, where people spotted leprechauns hanging Christmas lights along the streets. The Little People sure know how to paint the town green. One supersonic flight over the Atlantic Ocean, and #TheAviators were in New York City.
Once in New York, the distress alarm sounded off in Captain Rocky’s cockpit. Santa Claus, the jolly old elf, was trapped, which put Christmas in jeopardy. The brave pilots of #TheAviators converged on Santa’s last known position to find him stuck in a chimney. #TheAviators saved Christmas by pulling Santa and his sack of toys out of the chimney.
The next scheduled flight for #TheAviators is the quarterly tribute flight in January. Search #TheAviators hashtag for more flight details.
Nipclub, December 11, 2025 Sekurity Update
(By Slinky @slinky_the_cat, Sekurity Agent, Late Nite Shift)
I arrived on time. Ragamuffin Raspberry Tart (@sisfurcats) had nothing significant to report. She has the Sekurity Shift right before mine.
I saw Susan and Puddin (@georgiarealist), and Moo @(moothemousecat) had a martini waiting for me when I arrived. TJS (@TJS12145) and Dora K @ (dora_nlk) also were there. Gator (@RealFakeGator) said there were not a lot of security issues so far this evening.
After the last few weeks of craziness, this was most welcome!
I said hello to Louis and Heath (@psiangelic); I mentioned tequila fountains and martini Jacuzzis! Wouldn’t that be fun? We used to make a lot of tequila fountains!
I caught two interlopers out by the delivery entrance. I zip-tied them and locked them up. Easy peasy!
Gator was showing off his ugly sweater; it’s a sweater so heinous that it’s difficult to describe. A fire-breathing kitten setting a Christmas tree on fire, plus skulls wearing Santa hats. Truly a Design by Gator original!
Mizz Bassie (@MizzBassie) was here, and everyone was eating crispy onion rings and talking about the weather, snow, etc. Mizz and I have nice weather; she’s in Florida, and I’m in Jakku. We love nice weather in the winter!
Even Harvey Button (@HarveyButtonNZ) showed up! He doesn’t come into the bar often during the late hours, so it was a treat.
Pearl’s here now, after arriving a bit late because she had no electricity. She served up sweater-shaped cookies and cranberry meowmosas.
I took the golf cart out on the grounds to look for more sekurity risks, but it was quiet. Maybe too quiet. It was a slow night, which was fine by the Sekurity team. More time to party with the pals.
There was a delicious bacon lattice-topped apple pie. The stuff of dreams! That pie recipe should win a prize, like the noble feast prize, according to Sir Pickle (@SirLongpaw)!
I didn’t see Raven (@IndulgedFurries), so Pearl melted some butter, but then Raven showed up! She was having Twitter issues and wasn’t seeing notifications. We were rating butter, bacon, and chocolate in order of awesomeness. Together, they are purvana, declared Sir Pickle!
We talked about cat toys, toy dangers such as rubber bands, hair ties, etc. Then Vampy (@adorabully) showed up late to say hello. It’s nice to see everyone at Nipclub. I caught two interlopers, so it was not bad for an Ugly Sweater night!
Until next week
Betty and Rita Go To Paris by Judith E. Hughes
Wavy Paws. Today, I am reviewing a picture book travelogue for Meet Me At The Bookshelf called Betty and Rita Go to Paris with Text by Judith E. Hughes and Photographs by Michael Malyszko.
Ah, Paris. What could be better?
The French Crown Jewels, you say?
A little robbery at the Louvre, you say.
No, indeed. Just feast your eyes on the 84 pages of the City of Lights as seen by two adorable black labradors, Betty, age 11, and Rita, age 7.
Woof, what? You saw a picture of Betty and Rita lingering outside the Louvre?
*Cough* Well, page 26, right? They look thrilled there.
Um, no.
No one they know planned that heist. This is way before that event.
This 1999 book is a gorgeous photo journal instead; indeed, it’s a love note to dogs and travel.
I give it five paws way up.
Paris lends itself to great photography. These top dogs enliven Paris, featuring joyous photos alongside poetic writings within the pages. You will dream of big-city lights and your own furry friend.
Did you ever wish you could see Jim Morrison’s grave with your peeps?
Enjoy the Eiffel Tower all lit up at night?
Do you ever want to see the original Notre Dame Cathedral?
Sniff out a Hunchback or a baguette?
I do. I think books transport us into worlds we would love to explore. You may reside in Paris briefly, nods, if you suspend reality.
Sort of like you must suspend disbelief when the peeps tell you your dinner bowl is late, da nerve, because of a random “time change.”
As we move into fall and my favorite season, winter with all the snow, we like to look at this book to inspire my pup outings.
My momma reads this lovely book aloud to me and did it for all my sisfurs before me. In fact, my biggest sisfur, woo do not know her, she got to travel with my peeps to Paris, nod, nod. Her picture gives me joy, picturing them present in April, with budding trees, my dish full, on schedule, dear woman.
Oh, I digress.
Betty and Rita pose at all the most important Parisian places.
My crucial locale, however, exists here, alongside Momma.
Betty and Rita, like all pups, pose while eating, romping, wrestling, and leaping about in fountains. They no doubt got treats for all the posing *looks longingly at my dinner bowl*.
I loved these two Labradors, and I know you will too.
Ooh look, dinner is here. Gotta run. See you next time when you Meet Me At The Bookshelf.
Wuv You.
The Anipal Times 