Seems like, these days, there are more pooches in the workforce than ever. Being a working mutt myself, I totally relate: We get a real sense of satisfaction (and treats) when we pull our share. We are part of the family after all, right?
So, anyway, this week I had a nice yap with a couple of Pekingese who work with their Dads, Chris and Dan, at a cozy little store in the Village Shops. Josh is 10 and his little step-sis Lola’s 9. Josh was the spokespooch, but Lola, who looked all sweet and dainty in her little daybed, is totally the Alpha.
Soon as me and my assistant walked in, we could smell this really yummy smell all over the place. There were all sorts of cool stuff for Humans’ houses, and Josh and Lola had their beds behind a little gate at the counter.
After the Wag-and-Sniff, Josh led us back to where his Dad Chris was working on the computer. “We can yap here, if that’s OK.”
“Sure ‘nuff!” I said. “So, how’d you get here?”
“Bonzo, I was REALLY a lucky dog! I was hoping to go to college, but I got lost in Gainesville. I was trying to find my Human, when the Dog Catcher nabbed me and took me to a shelter. If I’d been there a week and nobody came to get me, I wudda been Soggy Dog Biscuits. And I almost was. No one came for me, but – Thank Lassie! – a nice lady rescued me and put my picture on petfinder.com. And at the Very Same Time, my Dads were looking for a Pekingese, ‘cuz their other Pekingese went to Dog Heaven and they were finally ready to adopt again. Well, they saw my picture and rescued me and brought me home with them. Boy, was I happy.”
“I’ll bet you were!” I exclaimed.
“Y’know, Bonzo, I’m just an easy-going, laid-back pooch. I NEVER growl and I love kids. So I’m a perfect fit for my job here: Official Goodwill Ambassador. Anyway, I was an Only Dog for several years. Then one day my Dads went on petfinder.com and saw a picture of a Pekingese that looked a LOT like ME! Also, sorta like me, she was rescued from the streets of Miami and ended up in a shelter in Tampa. Poor little pooch. But my Dads went and got her and next thing you know, I have a little sister – Lola. She loves to be in charge, and that’s okey-dokey with me. She’s sweet with people, but she waits till I do the greeting, then she’ll come out. She ‘specially loves to hear Humans say how cute she is. And BOY does she love squeaky toys. She has, like, a million, and they ALL squeak. She plays with them for hours! She’s always offering to share, but I’m not much into toys. My Dad Chris says me and him are Klutzes, which I think means we knock stuff over sometimes.“
“Tell me about your daily routine,” I suggested.
“We get three walks a day. We’re very well-trained and only Do Our Duty in the proper spots. We get kibbles, of course, and all-natural treats. And our Dads don’t make us do tricks. They say we’re Free Spirits. Oh, and listen to THIS: One time, our Dads thought it’d be cute to dress Lola up for Halloween. So they got her a hot dog costume. No Woof! It was hilarious. She was in this big stuffed bun with the hotdog part over her back – and there was even pretend mustard on it. Here, wait a minute, I’ll SHOW you!” He raced off and came back with a picture in his mouth.
Well, he was right! It was hilarious! We were both laughing when Lola trotted over and grabbed the photo. She smiled at me and said, “Honestly, Josh never gets tired of dragging out this silly picture. I put up with it ‘cuz I love our Dads, but I didn’t really relish being a hot dog, if you see what I mean.“
At that, we all three started laughing again.
Still giggling, Lola said, “That was the first and last time our Dads tried to get a costume on either one of us. I did look pretty cute, tho, dontcha think?”
“Absolutely,” I managed, thinking I’d better change the subject. “Do you travel?”
”We’re great travelers, Mr. Bonzo,” Lola said. “We have little beds in back of the car. We strap in and GO. But to tell you the truth, we love just coming to work then going home and relaxing with our Dads. On Sunday mornings we all get to be lazy, stay in bed late, and just goof off. But, sometimes, Josh snores VERY LOUD, and then he has to sleep in the closet. But it’s like a cute little bedroom ‘cause it’s a walk-in with a carpet and everything. He likes it and we do too, ‘cuz it muffles his snores.“
“You didn’t have to share THAT,” Josh said, but he was smiling.
“Hey, big bro, if you can share my hot dog costume, I can tell about your snoring.”
“Fair’s fair,” I commented.
Heading home, I was still smiling, thinking about Lola in that hot dog costume. I had to admit, it was pretty cute. Goofy. But cute.
