Dear Emma…Love, Skip

7-year-old Emma is fighting a very rare and inoperable brain tumor called DIPG. Last weekend she was having a normal weekend playing with friends, playing in the snow, and wrestling with her brothers. On Sunday though, she got a headache and started having flu-like symptoms. By Wednesday, she was rushed into surgery to reduce swelling on the brain. She has had a second surgery now and is preparing for 6 weeks of daily radiation therapy. She is a fighter and she and her family along with everyone on Team Emma are here to fight for her. (copied from, and donate here: gofundme)

Emma loves dogs and has asked for people to contact her with their dog’s photos. Many of my readers, forwarded this to me. When Skip heard about it, he had a lot to say to Emma:

Dear Emma,

My name is Skip. I’m a Wolador. I’m part Timber Wolf and part Labrador. My mom was a Timber Wolf, and my dad was a Labrador. I live in San Francisco, California, and guess what? I’m seven years old. Just like you!

During the day when my owner, Lucy, is at work, I sit by the window and guard my neighborhood because I’m an official member of my neighborhood watch. But during summer vacation when school is out, my neighbor boy, Thomas, reads HARRY POTTER to me. I have a lot in common with Harry Potter. I’m not a wizard, but I’m excellent at building a pack and gaining friends, just like Harry finds Hermione and Ron.

So this is the first time I’ve ever emailed a human, and I’ve never had a pen pal before. I bet you didn’t now that dogs could email, right? But I’m special, as in bow-wow special. In fact, I just wrote my first book. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m an honest dog. It’s true. I really wrote a book. My friend, Teri Case, speaks Canine, so I asked her to translate my story to English.

It’s called IN THE DOGHOUSE: A COUPLE’S BREAKUP FROM THEIR DOG’S POINT OF VIEW. It’s a book for grown-ups, but who knows, maybe your mom or dad can read it to you and keep out the parts they think aren’t appropriate for your young—but wise, I’m sure—mind. I got this idea from my owner, Lucy. When Lucy was little, her Aunt Eve used to read aloud love stories but had to skip over the bits that weren’t meant for kids. Anyway, if your parents want a copy, let me know. I can’t mail one myself because I’m a dog, but I can walk to the post office with Lucy to mail it to you. Cool, huh?

My favorite things to do are take walks, chase tennis balls (sometimes I can’t stop, and my legs get wiggly like Jell-O), and cuddle. Cuddling is the doggone best activity in the entire world. I may look like my Timber Wolf mama and accidentally scare people with my size sometimes, but I’m a cuddler at heart.

You already know I like to read. Oh, and I love DOGTV. I watch it all the time. It’s a channel where other dogs do a lot of things I like to do too.

Do you like to read? What’s your favorite book? What’s your favorite show or movie? Do you like Jell-O?

There’s one last thing you should know about me. I’m also a service dog. I get to visit hospitals, nursing homes, and schools in my area. Have you met a service dog before?

I can’t take selfies yet to send you my picture, so instead, I’m giving you a picture of my book cover. The dog model on the cover is not me, but I look a lot like him. In my opinion, I’m more handsome. This dog actor is a Berger Blanc Suisse. A Berger Blanc Suisse is, you guessed it, a breed of dog from Switzerland.

Thanks for being you, Emma. I’m barking and cheering for you.

Ruf Ruf,

Skip