I have always admired working dogs and more so after we adopted our dog, Yeti.
As I shared with readers in our last issue, Yeti was rescued from a puppy mill and was pretty sickly when we adopted him. As a baby, he spent most of his days in the loving arms of college interns at the ad agency I worked at. Because he was weak no one wanted to make him do too much. If Yeti didn’t want to walk, we put him in a pet stroller. If Yeti didn’t want to go up the stairs, we carried him. He was (and is) spoiled.
As he grew up and got cuter and cuter, people would say, “Get that dog an agent. He’s adorable.” I would thank those nice people for their compliment while knowing that Yeti was not right for showbiz or any biz for that matter. You see, people don’t hire couch potatoes.
Yeti is lazy. He loves long naps, being held and carried. Under a pile of blankets is Yeti’s favorite place to be. It’s an artform.
While he is very healthy and will go on walks now, he has about a 1-mile limit. At one point I thought perhaps Yeti could still do work as a therapy dog, but after reading how much training and work goes into becoming certified (See page 16) I know that Yeti is not right for the job. On top of that, Yeti is, unfortunately, choosy about who he wants to spend time with. My mom and husband top his list. Strangers, unless they are delivering food to our home, are not a welcome sight for Yeti.
Although Yeti may not be cut out for a career, it’s fun to learn about the great work other dogs do in our community. From keeping students and citizens safe, to giving us comfort in a time of need and protecting brave men and women at war, it’s truly amazing what Man’s Best Friend is capable of.
I had the pleasure of meeting our cover model, Majic, and was truly impressed by his obedience and his ability to snap into work mode on a moment’s notice. It takes Yeti a good 30-40 minutes of stretching and yawing to wake up in the morning.
He may not be able to earn his keep, but Yeti certainly has the important job of ensuring that Matt and I feel loved. If your pet has yet to find his or her calling, I bet you feel the same way.
Along with working dogs, our spring issue is packed with great content from Paris-bound cats to a bug collection, to ideas on where to play outside with your pet, there is something for every pet lover.
As always, please feel free to reach out and share your pet story with me at ecaswell@mihomepaper.com. Our fall issue will be here before you know it. Until then …
Happy tails!
— Emily P. Caswell
Editor, The Pet Press
