20/09/2025
Once upon a time in a little village, there was a beautiful… cough, cough… Well, that’s how you might expect the tale to go.
Yo-ho! Greetings to all who wander upon my path. Settle down for an epic adventure with me!
On a cold, windy day, I discovered a great yard. I snuck in without anyone noticing. The smell of shortbread biscuits and crunchies drifted on the air—oh, so heavenly! A red-haired girl spotted me, gave me food and water by the back door, and whispered, “Shh! It’ll be our secret.”
But minutes later, a rather large male human spotted me. He placed me outside the fence. To his surprise, I wriggled back in. And so began our curious game: out of the yard, in the yard, out of the yard, in the yard. Puff, puff — I was quite clever, you see! After hours of this, the human finally gave up. Did I win?
The next day, the red-haired girl found me again, paws trotting eagerly (well… more like eager paws trotting since I didn’t have a tail). But oh no — the large male human again! Into the car I went. Was I going somewhere? The girl placed me gently on her lap, then out into the world we went. She put me down on the ground and closed the door. But when the car began to pull away, I sprinted with all my might after it. My heart was racing, but I couldn’t let her leave.
The car stopped. The door opened. She scooped me up and whispered, “I’m sorry. We’re going home. You’ll get a bath.” My heart soared. Had I won the oddest game of my life?
We got back to the most fabulous yard ever. I was put into a tub of lukewarm water and got soaking wet — I felt like a drowned rat. I was told to stay, but I thought it was the most horrid thing in the world. Once the red-haired girl was done, I raced away as fast as my legs could carry me. I think we were still playing that strange game. I had to find a better place to hide.
I found myself behind a very huge chair inside the house. After some time, the red-haired girl found me, gently took me in her arms, and set me outside on the chair in the warm sun. She spoke to me about lots of things — about an old man and a chair. She told me her name: Liz. She also gave me a name: Pookla. I knew in my heart that I had won this very strange game.
During our years of adventures together we played in the sand at the holiday house, went for car drives (I stuck my head out the window to smell the air and all the stories in it), and one year I went to the mountains in November — so cold! I experienced my very first cow-patty and stood in it. Oh, it really stank. I ran in the mud and chased blue and purple butterflies on the softest grass ever. It was so fun.
We were always together — on walks, trips to the beach, or just chilling and holding each other’s hand. My favourite things were hugs and kisses: when my head was gently stroked, when she told me stories, when she rubbed my chest and held my paw. We would fall asleep together in the sun on her bed. NAPS! NAPS are the greatest. I had fun with my friend Leila too — we used to get up to so much mischief together.
I am the cutest in the world. I would look at my human ever so lovingly and think: I see you. I love you to the moon and stars. I am always with you, even in your darkest days. Always together. I love you as bright and strong as moonlight and stars in the darkness of the unknown.
When my journey came to an end, my Liz — the human I loved as strong as the moon and stars — took me in her arms, laid me down gently, and held my paw. She looked me in the eyes with love, kindness, and sadness. She stroked my head in my favourite spot, held my paw, and gently rubbed my chest. She told me about all our adventures—especially how silly I looked chasing those butterflies and how I stepped in the cow-patty. Then she smiled at me so softly and said, “I love you, boo. How does the saying go? I love you lots like jelly tots — to the moon and stars and back again.”
I wanted to tell her: I love you to the moon and stars. Always and forever.
In the end, I realized I had truly won the strange and peculiar game. I won
🌙 Liz’s Journey with MuttMix 🌙
For years, people tried to guess what my dog Pookla was. Jack Russell? Mini Fox Terrier? Chihuahua? Maybe even a mix of all three? But no one knew for sure. I just wanted to give her an answer. To finally know what made her her.
One day, I told my mom and my boyfriend at the time: “Let’s do a DNA test!” But it was quickly shot down. “She’s just a dog. Why would you do that?” they said. My dream for Pookla was brushed aside.
In her final moments, I remembered that promise I had made to her. I asked the vet to please take a swab, so that one day, maybe, I could still know. She kindly did and told me about a company called MuttMix. I raced home with that swab clutched in my hands like it was gold — the most precious thing I had.
When I checked online, my heart sank. The kits were out of stock until August. Pookla passed away on July 28th. I thought my chance was gone.
Still, I emailed them. And that’s when MuttMix showed me what kindness looks like. They told me the swab might not work — most don’t, when done with other kits. But they were willing to try. They treated me with compassion, not judgment.
I prayed. To God, to the moon and stars, to the universe itself. I asked that against all odds, this one small thing would work.
The weeks passed, and then my results arrived: My little Boo wasn’t a mystery anymore.
✨ Pookla’s Magical Mix — What Made Her, Her ✨
🐾 40% Toy Fox Terrier → Her clever little mind, escape-artist skills, and that boundless “game on!” energy. (Out the yard, in the yard, out the yard… puff puff!)
🐾 14% English Cocker Spaniel → The soft, loving cuddle-bug who wanted nothing more than to be close, held, and kissed. 🐾
🐾 12% Miniature Pinscher → That bold “queen of the world” confidence, always trotting with proud little steps and a sparkle in her eyes. 👑
🐾 12% Manchester Terrier → Her sharp awareness — nothing ever slipped by her. A loyal guardian, even with her small frame.
🐾 11% Cavalier King Charles Spaniel → Pure sweetness. The gentle soul who would stroke your heart with her gaze and make naps feel like magic. ✨
🐾 11% Shiba Inu → That streak of independence, the “I’ll do things my way, thank you very much” sass — and the quiet dignity that made her so unique. 🐕
💫 All together, these pieces blended into Pookla Basket — a one-of-a-kind little dog who was mischievous, clever, loving, soft, stubborn, and absolutely magical. She wasn’t just a mix… she was starlight with four paws.
In that moment, I beamed with happiness and joy. I laughed. I felt at peace. I finally understood what made her her. And I knew my promise had been kept.
To most people, she might have been “just a dog.” But to me, she was my light, my comfort, my love. Knowing what made her special gave me the closure I didn’t think I’d ever get.
For that, I will forever be grateful to MuttMix. They didn’t just give me DNA results — they gave me peace, compassion, and the gift of honouring Pookla’s story. Thank you, MuttMix, for helping me understand the magic behind Pookla.
I love you, Pookla, to the moon and stars and back again. Always and forever. 🌙✨
-Written by Elizabeth, and in loving memory of Pookla 🩷🩵🩷
