Pooch Cafe by Paul Gilligan for July 17, 2009

Is anybody else having problems figuring out which is Orlando and which is our beloved Poncho? Either way I am stumped at who took PLANKY. Any ideas? Sweet bisquits, I don’t have a clue or a splinter of wood.

Orlando has a white collar Poncho’s is black

And their spots are on opposite sides of their faces. They’re like the black/white alien played by Frank Gorshin in the original Star Trek.

I still think that Orlando is somehow involved in the plank-napping.

I think we all will be suprised at the end of this story line and find that Orlando had nothing to do with it.

And the mystery deepens.

Well…whoever stole Plankie had to have money…they made flyers and had the dogs go to a non existent event..and paid for Ponchos owners to go see the play…who else has money but Orlando???

I can’t think of any one from this strip that would steal plankie, except Orlando. I no longer think that he took it. Could it be another one of Poncho’s siblings?

Since they are meeting at the river, maybe it’s fish.

Would it be a cliche to say the butler did it?

The one that says sweet biscuits is Poncho.

It IS Fish. The clue is: meeting by the ‘river’. Plankie is being used in Fish’s version of the Pirates of Penzance.

We but see through a glass darkly after all, for indeed the Plankiverse is most inscrutible and untelling.

cleokaya… I agree, but who could it really be? Perhaps Mrs. Marple could assist us here.

Sally: “Momma, is Mr. Plankie gonna be ok, is he Mamma!?” Momma: - wiping- sally’s tear stained face - “Hush little darlin’, Mr. Plankie gonna be jest fine.” Sally: “Momma is that a piece of Mr. Plankie they holdin, did…-sniff sniff- did they take an’ hurt Mr. Plankie momma, did they?!” Momma: “Now baby girl, you worryin’ too much, Mr. Plankie he jest fine, Why, I know it sure as I am born, now lets jest be still an’ watch…..”

Maybe it is Fish. Perhaps he and Plankie were kidnapped and now they will be found. Fish trying to keep Plankie from going down the river.

Re: Telling Orlando and Poncho apart…

I wouldn’t know about the spots on the face without checking previous strips, but I noticed the other day that Orlando’s collar is white and Poncho’s is black.

PS: I can’t believe that Fish is a plausible suspect (although I agree it might have been useful to ask if he’d seen anything). Fish doesn’t have a mean bone in his little body.

Fenyugreek Tubbsbott…* I have missed little Sally and her Mama.

Mr. Tubbsbottl, I agree with Margueritem. Reading Sally & Mama’s comments is almost a little book unto itself.

Margueritem: I cannot say dear friend if I ever told you, but one night in January, after a bit of pickles and vegemite, I had a dream, and dear Sally her mum came to me. The next day after, I found myself channeling the two, - Spiritualists notwithstanding- I was, needless to say quite surprised. Now, when ever I read Pooch Cafe, the ocassional Sally and Mum come through.

aprille1: “Mr. Tubbsbottl, I agree with Margueritem; reading Sally & Mama’s comments is almost a little book unto itself.”

Thank you aprille1. By the way, why not give the goodwife and I a recipe for your famous Dr. Carver’s Best peanut cookies? We would be ever grateful and most happily pleased.