Ace the Dog

First of a seven-part series

A dogged quest

There are 75 million dog stories in America. This is one of them.

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.

Third of a seven-part series

DNA test can reveal what mutt can't

Inside every creature there is DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid.

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.

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.

Sixth in a seven-part series

She's acting on her animal instincts

Sure, my dog talks.

Last of a seven-part series

End of tale

The mystery is over -- one of them, anyway.

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.

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.