Pet Tales: Follow Xante on Facebook
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Xante relaxes after getting a kiss on the forehead from his mom.
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Xante, the star of PG Puppy Cam, now has his own Facebook page and an ever-growing number of friends and followers.
Fans can watch Xante grow; there are pictures of him at all ages and stages of development. The photo gallery includes pictures of the golden retriever puppy with people who were clearly delighted to run into him when he was outside for a potty break.
Born Dec. 2, Xante was bred by The Seeing Eye Inc. to guide a blind person to a life of independence and dignity. But for now he comes to work, most weekdays, at the Post-Gazette with Joan Ardisson, who will raise him for 12-18 months. Then he will return to Seeing Eye for training and placement.
You can see Xante "live" on the Puppy Cam from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday-Friday. The cam captures frequent shots of the feet of Ms. Ardisson, assistant to John Robinson Block, PG publisher and editor-in-chief.
On Facebook, you can see what Xante is doing, day-to-day. He weighed 29.9 pounds on March 4 and 44.8 pounds at an April 15 veterinary check-up.
"Look what I got my mom for Mother's Day!" says a May 11 post next to a photo of a coffee mug covered with pictures of Xante. Yes, Xante (pronounced ZAN-tee) posts on his page, and people write back to him.
"Xante, hurry hurry and get to the office. I need my morning perk," wrote Kathleen Austin-Muzzey on May 12.
Sue Collins posted on May 5: "I was having a ruff day, then I saw this on FB and I feel better. Thanks Xante!"
The pup, through an editor, responds to posters and signs off with comments like this: "Wags right back atcha! Woof!"
Mike Martin wrote that his wife was recovering from surgery and asked if Xante would "send some puppy kisses and wiggles her way!" Xante did, prompting Mr. Martin to reply: "My wife is doing better. ... Your special wags REALLY helped! Thank you buddy. I am indebted to you! :)"
"Woof Woof Woof! I have more Facebook friends than my editor!" says one of the posts from Xante. There were 603 friends on Wednesday.
You don't have to join Facebook to see Xante's page, but you must join to post comments and be added to the list of Xante's friends.
Go to www.post-gazette.com and scroll down to Xante's picture and the PG Puppy Cam logo. Click on that to get to the next page where you can click on Puppy Cam or on "become Xante's fan on Facebook." Postings and pictures go back to March 31.
First Published May 15, 2010 12:00 am
