The Barking Lot is a regular weekly feature of This Just In…Originally written by both my lovely wife, Jennifer and me, this blog brings you the latest news about our furry friends including articles, columns, photos and videos. Enjoy!

THE WEEKEND DOG-WALKING FORECAST: We grade the weather outlook for taking your pet outdoors.

TODAY:  Sunshine and clouds mixed. High near 40.  “C”

SUNDAY:  Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. High of 42.  “C”

Time now for DOGS IN THE NEWS, canines that made headlines the past week.

Look out for dog flu…

Of course it would be flaky California. Bill would prohibit use of police K9s for arrests and crowd control.

Mom Asks If Her Daughter Can Pet Handler’s Service Dogs And Refuses To Hear The Word ‘No’.

Four 8-week-old puppies are recovering after being found near a ditch in Mequon.

Barking Lot update: Dog famed for living with coyotes in Nevada desert has emotional reunion with family.

This three-legged WI dog is training to inspire others to overcome difficulties in their lives.

Good news: Watch these strangers bring dog to safety in harrowing rescue operation.

Canoed more than 3,000 miles with her dog.

Ralphie, you’re just naughty.

Dog vs shark standoff thrills tourists on Bahamas boat tour.

Motorcyclist Tours the World with Dog as Her Copilot: ‘She Puts a Big Smile on Everybody’s Face.’

That’s it for this week. Thanks for stopping by.

We’d really appreciate it if you forward this on to other dog lovers you know. Let them have some fun!

See ya, BARK, next Saturday!

“A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, ‘Excuse me, where are we?’

‘This is Heaven, sir,’ the man answered.

Would you happen to have some water?’ the man asked.

‘Of course, sir. Come right in, and I’ll have some ice water brought right up’.The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

‘Can my friend,’ gesturing toward his dog, ‘come in, too?’ the traveller asked.

‘I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept pets.’

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

‘Excuse me!’ he called to the man. ‘Do you have any water?’

‘Yeah, sure, there’s a pump over there, come on in..’

‘How about my friend here?’ the traveller gestured to the dog.

‘There should be a bowl by the pump.’

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveller filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

‘What do you call this place?’ the traveller asked.

This is Heaven,’ he answered.

‘Well, that’s confusing,’ the traveller said. ‘The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.’

‘Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That’s hell.’

‘Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?’

‘No, we’re just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind. Dogs are family.’

Artist: T. C. Chiu

Words: Earl Hamner Jr.