- Howard Huge
Howard Huge is the name of a
comic strip produced byBunny Hoest (creator ofThe Lockhorns ), which appears inParade Magazine . The comics are one-panel and star Howard, an enormous but lovable dog, his family, and the neighborhood kids.Howard Huge was based on a real family pet. Here's the story of how Howard came to be from Bunny Hoest . . .
HOWARD HUGE was not a planned dog . . . he was an accident.
The family was looking for a Labrador Retriever as a companion to an aging, ladylike black Lab. The kennel was vibrant with lively Labrador puppies. Alone, in a too-small cage, was a furry and silent little animal. Unable to stand, he was placidly eyeing the pre-Christmas shoppers from his prone position.
The family opened the too-small cage and took the disheveled furry dog out for a stretch. He tried his paws and immediately sprawled on his belly. Happily he lay there, his disposition unruffled.
To the sharp questioning by the family, the kennel owner answered that the breeder in Minnesota had shipped the dog east two weeks before and that his growth had been so swift that he had outgrown the cage. He also speculated that the dog had been sent to the wrong kennel (where he remained unwanted) and had been taken from his mother too soon in the breeder's haste to "catch" the Christmas buyers. The family was appalled.
With something less than enthusiasm, the family kept looking at the playful Labrador puppies. But the littlest girl held the disheveled dog on her shoulder, where he promptly fell asleep. Without being able to come to a decision, the family started to leave and told the littlest girl to put the disheveled dog back. His too-big paws caught on her sweater as she returned him to his too-small cage. The good-natured animal kissed her face and lay quietly alone. The family was captivated. Their education began.
This furry, disheveled, good-natured, placid puppy was a Saint Bernard. He would eventually become an enormous, clumsy, comic, loyal and lovable member of the family and share over thirteen hilarious years with them. HOWARD HUGE is the immortalization of that gentle giant.
Howard Huge appears in his own children's book, "Howard Huge Comes to Stay." Published by Random House Books for Young Readers.
External links
* [http://www.howardhuge.com Official website]
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