BONZ: A tough dog with a tutu and pink toenails

This week I got to yap with Mya Zellars, whom I had met briefly at the Vero Dog Park Bark n’ Brew a couple weeks ago. She’s a BIG, robust girl, a Cane (pronounced cah-nay) Corso Italian Mastiff, who LOVES her family and, she told me proudly, “I don’t drool as much as other Mastiff breeds!”

(That’s always a plus in my book.)

Before I do an interview, I read up on the breed, so I know what to expect AND so I won’t sound like a total doof when I ask questions. Thousands of years ago, Mya’s ancestors were warriors, but now they’re “benevolent behemoths.” I found out that cane is Italian for dog, and corso means courtyard or guard. I also learned that one of the strongest characteristics of Mya’s breed today is loving and being protective of her family.

Knowing that, I wasn’t worried when she grrrrr’ed softly and looked back and forth between me and her humans when they opened the door. I knew she was checking with them to be sure we were okey-dokey. While she was making sure, I was admiring her shiny, dark brindle coat.

As soon as her Dad assured her we were OK and reminded her that I was the pooch they’d met at the Dog Park, she came right over for the Wag-and-Sniff. “Oh, of course, Mr. BONzo! Sorry about the grrrrr, it’s such a habit, y’know. Wow, I can’t believe you’re gonna do a story about ME. I LOVE your columns! This is my Dad, Ray, and my Mom, Lisha, and this is Aaliyah, my Big Sister and Best-Friend-in-the-World. She’s 10.”

Mya walked over to the couch, put her big head on Aaliyah’s lap and gave her Big Sister a nuzzle.

“Tell me about how you got here, and how long ago,” I asked.

“I was just a pupster. The story starts out sad but, don’t worry, it ends up happy. See, my Future Family went up to Georgia to visit friends for Thanksgiving, and took their dog, Diesel, who they loved very much. But, while they were there, Diesel went to Dog Heaven. Poor Aaliyah cried and cried. Well, Dad went on Google when they stopped to rest on the way home. He’d read up on my breed and thought it’d be perfect for his family. Then, guess what? He found a breeder in Malabar, which was right on the way back.

“When they got to my kennel, Dad let Aaliyah pick out the new family puppy. And she picked me! I knew she would, the minute I saw her! I was so teeny, I fit right in Dad’s hand. And I got to snuggle next to them all the way to my new home, so I wasn’t scared or anything. Now, there’s nowhere I’d rather be than with my family, ’specially my Big Sister. When she goes to school I hang out with Dad. Soon as I hear the garage door, I know Aaliyah’s home, and we do stuff together ’til bedtime.

Mya rooted under the couch and came out with a white ball in her mouth. “Baws oor by pa-brub … ooobs!” and she petooied the ball out. “Balls are my favorite toys. I have a bunch of ’em. I take ’em outta my toy box, and Dad puts ’em back in. And I really love splashing in water, doesn’t matter if it’s a pool, a pond, the ocean, a mudhole, the sprinkler. Indoors, I slosh my face in my water bowl. Dad and Mom understand and they keep a big roll of paper towels and a container of Mop&Glo close by. “

“No woof? That is so nice of them,” I commented.

“I know! Right?” she said. “Oooh, and I Iove baths, so they got me this special dog shampoo, so I NEVER smell, you know, ‘doggy.’ Here, smell me!”

She leaned toward me. I sniffed. She was right. She didn’t smell ‘doggy’ whatsoever.

“I really enjoy being a girl. Lookee, see, I have this pretty pink collar with rhinestones. I also have a leopard one. For Halloween, my big sister painted my toenails pink and I got to wear a yellow tutu with spaghetti straps.”

“Woof! You musta rocked the doghouse!” I exclaimed. “I bet you get a lotta exercise, right?”

“Totes! I run around with Dad when he cuts the grass; and I play in the yard with Aaliyah and her BFF, Piap, I watch ’em boing around on a big, round bouncy thing but I don’t try it myself; in summer we go to the beach, then go air-dry at the Dog Park. We go there almost every day. I know all the regulars. Got a ton of dog buddies, Humans, too, especially kids. They call me Mayor of the Dog Park.

“Last Christmas, I dressed up in a Santa suit, and got to be in the Christmas parade. Now it doesn’t event fit around me, becasue I grew. I`m 120 pounds, and I just had my second birthday in October. We went to the beach for my party and I got a big, yummy bone. My Dad gets delicious, safe bones for me from his friend, who has a BBQ business.”

“Where do you sleep?” I asked.

“I have big pillows all over the house for snoozes. At night I sleep with Dad, but I always go into my Big Sister’s room first. Dad makes me come back out before it gets too late, because me and her would stay up all night yapping (Girl Talk, y’know) and we’d never get any sleep.”

“Thanks for sharing! You have a wonderful story!” I told her sincerely.

“Yes, I do!” she agreed. “I’m a happy girl, with the best family a pooch could wish for!”

Heading home, I pictured Mya sitting patiently, while Aaliyah carefully polished all her toenails hot pink. Now that’s love.

Till next time,

The Bonz

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