Add this to the list

A couple of years ago, I compiled a list of various non-food items that Dante has eaten or attempted to eat. It's an interesting, but at the same time, sobering list, especially for a first-time, inexperienced dog owner that I was back then. Since that list was compiled, I am happy to report that the list hasn't gotten any longer -- which means that Dante hasn't managed to snarfle any other "prohibited" items that he hasn't already since then.

Well, until now. So the above statement is no longer true.

Remember, just a week ago, when I was lamenting about having to put up with Dante the Walking Fart Factory for an entire day and night because he had (it was strongly suspected) ingested something that he shouldn't?

During one of his more noxious spurts, The Fred took in a cringing whiff and exclaimed: "Hey, I KNOW that smell!", but, he couldn't quite put a finger on what it was specifically.

I merely shrugged that comment aside, as I was more concerned about dodging Dante's gaseous clumps at the time, until The Fred brought it up again a couple of days ago.

The Fred said: "Hey, remember when I said that I knew that stinky smell Dante was farting out? Well ..."

Boys and girls, we figured out what the illicit item was that Dante scarfed down that day during our absence.

Any guesses? No?

I would be really impressed if you guessed this: A MARKER PEN.

Really, Dante?? Of all things, a MARKER PEN???? Does a marker pen smell like food to a dog???

The Fred was rooting around his desk in the office, and noticed that one of his marker pens under the table was missing. He remembered that distinct uhm ... "scent" of Dante's fart, which smelled suspiciously similar to the unmistakable smell of a marker pen, and put two and two together ...

I have no idea why Dante would go poking around, pick out, and then settle to chow down a marker pen of all things. One of those inexplicable things that dogs do, I guess. I hope he won't repeat that again. The "stench" of a marker pen is bad enough when you have to put up with it while using it, but a marker-pen-scented fart? EEEEEEWWWWWW is all I can say.

Thankfully, no harm (that we can tell so far) came to Dante from gobbling down that marker pen, which is a really good thing, considering that there must be a bajillion toxic substances contained in a marker pen -- its ink in particular. I'm sending Pixie out on regular stray pen patrol from now on ...

So, yes, I guess we can add this one to the list!