The Sun's John Woestendiek's zealous pursuit of his pet's ancestry leads him down many trails
First of a seven-part series
A dogged quest
There are 75 million dog stories in America. This is one of them. Read more ...
Second of a seven-part series
At shelter, barking up the wrong tree
As reporters, we're not supposed to fall in love with those we write about -- no matter how soulful a set of eyes they flash at you. Read more ...
Third of a seven-part series
DNA test can reveal what mutt can't
Inside every creature there is DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid. Read more ...
Fourth of a seven-part series
A puzzle even for a pack of experts
Few people have more intimate knowledge of my dog than Dr. John Trujillo does -- he did, after all, relieve Ace of his reproductive bits -- but as far as what Ace might be, breed-wise, Trujillo had never volunteered a guess and didn't particularly care. Read more ...
Fifth of a seven-part series
Down memory lane and over to 21229
Maybe the reason I'm so interested in the past of my dog is because of the dogs of my past. Read more ...
Sixth in a seven-part series
She's acting on her animal instincts
Sure, my dog talks. Read more ...
Last of a seven-part series
End of tale
The mystery is over -- one of them, anyway. Read more ...
About the series
John Woestendiek has been a features reporter at The Sun for six years. Previously he worked as a reporter, columnist, national correspondent and editor at four other newspapers -- the Arizona Daily Star, Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer and The Philadelphia Inquirer, where he received a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting in 1987 for his reporting on prisons and mental institutions. Woestendiek, 53, lives in South Baltimore with his dog, Ace. Read more ...
Dealing an Ace to a shuffled life
Suddenly this spring, I found myself alone. Don't worry, nobody died or anything. It was just the standard spousal parting of ways, followed by the standard reclaiming of space -- painting the walls colors I liked, moving furniture where I wanted it, purging the cupboard of nutritious foods and replacing it with food as it is meant to be: processed and microwaveable. Read more ...
More Mutts stories
A mix of news, views and tales that amuse for pets and the people who love them. Read more ...
