FurBabies by Nancy Beiman for January 19, 2024

Hmmm, wonder who it could have been?

The picture looks familiar. Shawm, any guesses who it was?

I love the parent being a vet!

It must have been Shawm.

LaVa’s drawing certainly is a broad hint as to it must have been. Shawm?

Shawm is the big news in their household.

That’s hilarious. Perfect.

He knows where you’ve been!!

Shawm! Oh, Shawm…Way to leave an impression.

A shawm is the double reed ancestor of the oboe, used in Europe from the 12th century through the 17th, and revived in the 20th by early music musicians. Shawms were made in different sizes and so had different ranges, from very low in pitch to very high. By the 14th century it was also referred to as a hoboy, and in the 15th c., hautbois, “high wood.” That name was transferred to the true oboe when it was invented in the 17th c.—not that I expect any of you would confuse the two. Pogo Possum at times played an instrument (vaguely) resembling a shawm—or possibly an early oboe, which went right along with the confusion that was so much a part of that cartoon. Research has not yet shown if Mr. Walt Kelly knew the difference, anyway. See, exempli gratia, the Sunday strip of Dec. 26, 1971, https://static0DOTcbrimagesDOTcom/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/pogo-christmas-11DOTjpg

Shawm’s veterinarian, perhaps?

Great story line!

Small world, isn’t it?

I wonder how Shawm will feel about Kate fraternizing with the enemy’s children . . .

Rut Rho. Could he possibly be referring to Shawm?

Oh, oh! Poor Shawm has just been exposed!

The 3rd panel says volumes.

Good likeness of Shawm, there!

LOL! Poor Shawm – he’s never going to live this down.

You want to see the security footage!

Oooo, a twist! (which is what Shawm was doing trying to get away from the vet)

Uh oh

Time to withdraw in shame. (Bag over head optional but recommended.)

What amazing coincidence!

OOOOOOHHHHH! I just got it! (I had to come back and look a second time at the comic)

Barbara (aka Lava) drew a pic of the problem their mother had to deal with, and it’s Shaum!