RES DOGS: The Life and Times of Stumpi de Chelly (pronounced, "de-shay") is a yarn about res dog strays on the Navajo Reservation, and, in this novel, the scenic Canyon de Shelly National Monument is the picturesque locale for this narrative. Inspired by a silly-looking res dog that once befriended my girlfriend and me, that part of the story is true. The rest of the novel is fictitious, except the drama and brutal facts of life all res dogs face is all too true. Thus, the ups and downs of these peerless pooches, who, many of them, were thoughtlessly dropped off at the reservation by their owners, which, of course, is both a scandalous and inhumane thing to do. Since there are no spying and neutering clings on the res, as it's colloquially called, the problem is exacerbated and exported by the dogs, themselves, because that's what happens when the females come into season. All the dogs in this story, both their names and most of the antics, are drawn on dogs and names I have known and were owned by other people. Consequently, I added some of their antics in the story, and, of course, I have traveled extensively throughout the res and got to meet many of the dogs, as well as their methodology and scheming when mooching for food. Moreover, I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly given their daily grind. This story, therefore, is based on truth and facts, except I decided to let the dogs do most of the talking. Thus, telling what they know and experience from their perspective, which, of course, requires a poetic license. (And that's where I play a pivotal role in this tale told by tails.) Stumpi de Chelly is the featured celebrity of the story. On the other paw, all the res dogs are celebrities in their own right. Indeed, some of them are downright characters. Let me also say you won't find a nicer and better behaved dog on the planet--their dispositions are that sweet, and their natures are that gentle. Another admirable trait about res dogs is that they live entirely in the moment. Accordingly, their mooching sessions visiting one campsite after the other denote an all or none proposition. In short, they're there to get handouts from the campers who provide the only meals for these wonderful beggars mit paws and tails. Many of them are also underfed, and their ribs are showing. Naturally, sometimes the campers are not so generous, and so, the dogs mosey on until, and if, they find a camper who is will to share his or her food scraps with the nearly constant stream of beggars looking for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. On this note, sadly, many res dogs are not in optimum health. Most also suffer from borderline malnutrition, as well as a host of other common ailments (i.e., mange, eyesores, worms, and on and on goes the long list). In fact, the chancy life of res dogs is so precarious, the average lifespan is somewhere between three and four years. It's no wonder they make the best of every day of their lives, despite their afflictions and how hungry they are most of the time. They must also endure temperature extremes ranging from simmering in the canyon environs during the warm and hotter months, and near freezing or below freezing during the winter. Then there are rain and snow and flash flooding conditions that take a toll on some of the dogs. Surprisingly, none of the dogs ever complain. Stumpi de Chelly, especially, has this commendable trait. He's also considered the wisest dog in the community though he, of course, would be too modest to agree with such an accolade. Total page count: 256