In an earlier article, I mentioned dancing around the kitchen, holding Farley, and singing "The Farley Polka." Someone left a comment asking for the words to the Farley Polka, which I posted. Here they are again:

Dance around the kitchen, wear a happy smile
This is the Faaaarrrrleeeey polka!

She's a pretty dog, happy all the while
We love the Faaaarrrrleeeey polka!

Farley is a friend, to everyone she knows,
And we love to kiss, her pretty, fuzzy nose

Let's join in together and dance in doggie time
We love the Farrrrrrrleeeeeey Pol....KAAAAA!

Now comes the next "Open Your Heart with Pets" contest. Write it in April, it will be posted in May.

This is your chance to share a song for or about your pet! It must be to the tune of one of the following (please note in your email which melody fits your lyrics):

"She'll be comin' around the mountain when she comes..."
"How much is that doggy in the window?"
"America the Beautiful"
"Auld Lang Syne"
"Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree"

That way we can all follow along and get the gist of the surely wide range of outstanding lyrics about to slam my e-mailbox. As John McCain might say (but it doesn't make sense to me when he says it about voting) "enter early and enter often."

The prize the prize the prize!
A box of pet-related goodies: 1 signed copy of Open Your Heart with Pets: Mastering Life through Love of Animals; a box of edible doggie treats; 1 copy of They Called Me Beautiful: A Dog's Search for Love and the Family that Rescued Him; and 1 original Artist Trading Card with a drawing of a dog by Janice.

Here are the rules:
Write a the lyrics for a song for or about your pet.
I should be able to sing it to the melody mentioned above (though thank God I won't, where anyone can hear me).
Deadline is April 30th, 2008.
Email the lyrics to OYH.PETS@gmail.com

The winner will be notified and asked to provide a mailing address. There will be only one winner chosen.

This contest is offered by Janice Phelps Williams, an earnest author of pet-related books and articles, and has nothing whatsoever to do with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, as I am a "reader blogger" not being at a level 10, "staff blogger."

Void where prohibited by law of man or beast.