Name:  Mocha

AKA: Butter Ball, Buddy, Mo

Likes: Stealing socks and stuffed animals, licking toes, and getting hugs.

Dislikes: Water and being away from his family, especially his girls.

Happiest When: All the family is right in front of him and the sun is shining.

Best Animal Friend: Any dog who will play with him.

Saltiest Moment: Well, there was the time he chewed up mom’s sassy pink sandals . . . or the day he shredded her pillow case but left the pillow intact . . . and he loves to steal a sock or a stuffed animal and run around the house daring us to catch him . . . and there was that night he ate the arms and legs off a favorite Calico Critter toy . . . or the day he knocked over the new spring seedlings and spread dirt around the house . . . and he ate flip flop once . . . and, well, he likes to pretend to run away, keeping just shy of arm’s reach while we chase him . . . plus, there was the stroller strap, and all those books, and the hats and mittens . . . oh, let’s face it — Mocha is a very salty dog.

Bio: Mocha was rescued from a shelter in Virginia and transported to Massachusetts where he immediately put a spell on his adoptive family. Now we have to love him no matter how many shoes, toys, books, and socks he chews up. His magic extends to strangers who usually think that he is cute — and miss his devilish side. He can also conjure a surprisingly large bark if he think he should protect his “girls.” No one’s found his spell book yet, but we haven’t given up on looking. Someday we think he’ll actually listen to something that we tell him.