Our morning started off cold and foggy with hoar frost forming on the trees, but the sun broke out about mid-day and gave us a warm afternoon (a high of 36ºF or 2ºC). Any good dog knows that you have to take advantage of those warm, sunny days in the winter by doing the best activity – sun sleeping.

Kiska and Qannik spread out in the yard.

To take things to an advanced level, Frankie and Typhoon added a level of skill to this – sunny synchronized sleeping.

Big Bro & Little Bro.

The little man might be a pest sometimes, but his big brother protects him no matter what.

Frankie and his Mini Me.

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Valentine’s Hearts for the Herd Update

With only a few days to go in the Valentine’s Hearts for the Herd contest, Qannik has expanded his fundraising lead with $229 over challengers ($164) and Kiska ($154). Just behind them is , Cheoah ($139), Natasha ($130) and Frankie $99. The real winner, of course, are the rescued animals you are helping to fund at Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation.

This is your last chance to enter the contest as all Valentine’s must be received by February 13 in order to be eligible for our drawing – a gift basket from Smoky Mountain Dog Bakery!

*** If you have not mailed your Valentine, we will continue accepting donations after this week’s deadline or you can make an on-line contribution on Sarge’s Home Page (click the donate button). ***

Remember to mail your Valentine’s card(s) to your favorite member of The Herd (To: Dog’s Name, c/o The Thundering Herd, PO Box 1835, Maggie Valley, NC  28751-1835). If you wish, you may also include a donation made payable to Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation (who saved 1,231 dogs and cats in 2014 – over 3 animals every single day of the year – see this article for details).

You can find the profiles of each dog at these links – Cheoah, Natasha, Qannik, Kiska, Typhoon and Frankie.