Personal Stats: Born: May 10, 2002, 8:25pm Weight at Birth: 5 oz. Length: 5.5 inches. Yes, it was a red-letter day when The Binkster arrived on the planet. She was one of six puppies, 3 boys, 3 girls. Her mother became ill during delivery and nearly died. Luckily, Mom survived after two weeks in the veterinary hospital but couldn't take care of her brood, so Binks and her siblings were nursed from a bottle.

Binks was the first pick of the litter. She won the heart of her new family by ignoring them completely. They figured she'd be a great "Beta" dog, which has turned out to be the case. No excessive barking, jumping or general obnoxious dog behavior. (You can get a chin pressed against your leg and big eyes staring up at you in silent reproach if you don't bring the food out quite fast enough, however. She loves to eat.)

How did she get her name?

The Binkster was named from a Gary Larson cartoon. In the cartoon, a family is looking out a second-story window to see a large, black dog falling to the ground. The caption reads: The Doberman throws itself out the window upon learning the family named it Binky. Hence, Binky, Binks....The Binkster.

Binks is currently on a diet. Having ballooned up to a (gulp!) hefty 28 pounds, she was told by the vet to slim down to 16. Sixteen?!! This is, like, really, really hard for her. Currently she's weighing in at 23 pounds. Much healthier but she thinks dieting is a REAL DRAG. She does have a new appreciation for her (lite) dog food, though. No turning up her nose -- or what passes as a nose, in her case -- at anything any more.

The character of The Binkster was conceived for the Jane Kelly Mystery Series long before she became a reality. CANDY APPLE RED, the first book in the series, took various incarnations before it finally sold in its current form. Binks was always part of the book. One trip to the pug breeder and Binks was discovered in physical form as well! Much like Jane Kelly in CANDY APPLE RED, Binks converted her new family into dog lovers with a few pug snorts and a happy, wagging, curly tail.

Check out some of The Binkster's favorite photos...

Do you see the problem?	You lookin' at me?
The Binkster, Pug Extraordinaire	Food....hurry....I could expire.....
I'm ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille.	Jingle Paws. You like 'em? Let's see you wear them.
Get out of the way -- you're in front of the TV.	Is that a Yeti?
Bar Fly costume.	Reindeer antlers.....someone's idea of cute....not mine.
Binkster looking into the waters of Lake Chinook	Does this fish make me look fat?
Put that camera down and get back into Clue Master Detective	Look! There's a dog! There's a dog! Get your hands off me. There's a dog!
Beachcombing	Nancy and Binks -- one "hot" dog -- on a hike to Falcon's Point on the Oregon Coast