Hey there! I’m June, my good friends call me June Bug, Junie Bee Jones, or Love Loaf

depending on the day. I live here in I'On and spend most of my time on the front porch chillin in

the sunshine with Stinky Pinky, my favorite toy. Now you might think he sounds like something

that crawled out from under a couch after a wild party, and you're not wrong. But no matter how

gross he smells (which is pretty much like old gym socks mixed with a dab of Paco Rabanne...if

you know, you know), I drag Stinky Pinky everywhere. Seriously, I’ve got Stinky Pinky tucked

under my paw more often than my humans hold their cup of coffee.

Then there's my favorite hangout spot: The Square Onion. It’s the gourmet corner shop in I'On,

and it's been around for ages. The human, Cary, who owns it, is my Dad, and he’s a chef, which has

its obvious perks. Every day, Dad takes me with him for a ride in his pickup to check on things at

the shop. Pulling up and smelling the house-cooked roast beef for the Goose sandwich (it’s my

favorite... I leave the salads to you humans) and the aroma of homemade brownies and cookies

wafting out the back door is......mmmmmm.

Then there is the assembly of the Italian meat penne casseroles along with the other

homemade casseroles that you can take and bake at home. Knowing I always get leftovers after

dinner keeps me happy.

And let's talk about pup cups! Those little cups filled with frozen goodness make me feel like I

just struck gold at the dog park lottery. When they hand it over to me—oh boy—it’s game on!

One lick turns whatever worries I had about squirrels and the Amazon guy into distant

memories. Honestly, I'd trade all my tennis balls for just one more pup cup.

When I'm not busy being the ultimate taste tester, you can find me snoozing on our front porch.

Some say I have a snoring problem, but the art of the perfect afternoon nap is what I’ve

mastered. Snoring is simply the icing on the cake.....mmmmm cake.

You might also see Nic, my younger brother, who likes to play video games with his head

propped up on my belly. During COVID, he took all his classes via Zoom from my dog bed. I’m now

proficient in algebra and can count to 10 in Chinese. I’ve known him since he was a baby, and I

just can’t believe he’s not a dog. Ethan and Chloe are also part of my human family, but they’re

grown, so I only see them when they come back from college during the holidays like

Thanksgiving......mmmmm turkey. Then there’s my mom. She rubs my belly and kisses my

snout and tells me she loves me. Can you blame her? I’m her big ole love loaf....at least that's

what she calls me. She smells really good, like a freshly baked vanilla cookie just out of the

oven...mmmmmm.

Most afternoons, you can find me walking and sniffing...well, more sniffing.... on the trail behind

my house with my dad following. He likes to make sure I don’t take unnecessary rest stops, and

when I do, that I leave no evidence behind. He’s always talking to me, but since he hasn’t learned

dog and I’m fluent in English, I just pretend not to understand him. When we get home, he pours cold water in a bowl and adds ice. I always take a full facial plunge ....the ice shrinks my pores and keeps me lookin good.... It's I'On after all, and I need to keep it tight.

Of course, life isn't always smooth sailing—like when Dad tries to clean Stinky Pinky in the

washing machine. Doesn’t even work. Pinky’s unique odor can’t be washed away. Years of

drooling and mud have created the perfect aroma. My dad once tried to buy me a new “chew

toy”. He even rubbed it in bacon grease to entice me to take it, but not a chance!

So if you find yourself passing my porch one lovely afternoon, feel free to stop and scratch my

belly. Just don’t touch Stinky Pinky. He’s mine and here to stay.