About the series

May 14, 2007

Sun reporter John Woestendiek (Sun photo by Elizabeth Malby / May 10, 2007)

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.

Work on the series began in February, when reports came out about a new DNA test that identifies what breeds are in dogs. Woestendiek, who adopted Ace from the city animal shelter in 2005, pursued that and several other avenues on a quest to find his pet's roots and answer the question everybody asks: "Hey, Mister, what kind of dog is that?"

... and a new pet page

Along with the Ace stories each day this week, baltimoresun.com is launching Mutts, a Web page for pet lovers. The documentary version of the Ace series -- or "dogumentary" -- can be seen at baltimoresun.com/mutts.

With continuing features by Woestendiek on the adventures of Ace, as well as profiles of animals in shelters awaiting new homes, local pet stories, resources for pet owners and a gallery of pictures, The Sun intends to create a place where readers will find entertaining, informative and free-spirited stories about the animals they love. You can also share favorite photos of your pets by sending them to baltimoresun.com/petphotos.