triumphs - FIDO Friendly

March 2014
digital supplement
Oogy
triumphs
Former Bait Dog Inspires Hope
Canine Cocktail Anyone?
Downtown San Diego unleashes
plenty of “mutts-sees.”
Rosemary’s Babies
Running with the Pack
[ Issue 61.1 ]
Publisher
Susan Sims
Editor-in-Chief
Nicholas Sveslosky
President
Greg Sims
(800) 896-0976
[email protected]
Social Media Director
Ali Kochie
Account Executive
Elise P. Margulis
(973) 535-1010
[email protected]
[email protected]
Editorial
Editor-at-Large
Arden Moore
Production
[email protected]
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Join us
March 2014 - Digital Supplement 3
prologue
editor’s note
the ff vault!
Editor’s black lab, Tasha,
always up for playing.
W
elcome to an archived issue of FIDO Friendly magazine straight from The Vault!
If you are new to FIDO Friendly, or if you have been with us for the past 13
years, you won’t want to miss an archived issue each month to compliment your FIDO
Friendly library of great topics and places to stay.
Be sure to click on the links to learn more about destinations and advertisers and
please remember to check with hotels before booking your stay in the event their pet
policies or rates have changed.
Whether you read FIDO Friendly online or in print, I hope you enjoy your new
digital supplement from The Vault!
N ichola s S v e s lo s k y
Editor-in-Chief
On the Cover
Oogy Triumphs: Former bait dog is now a
model canine citizen.
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WatchOur
Video
ReadCustomer
Testimonies
Canine connoisseurs
delight in restaurants
that cater to fourlegged patrons.
Lori Gustin’s dog,
Gus, awaits the luck
of the Irish at Waxy
O’Connor’s on San
Antonio’s Riverwalk.
6 February 2014
H
ow many in your “pawty?” Can we
wrap the leftovers in a doggy bag?
Will that be the leashed or nonleashed section? Pardon the puns, but here at
FIDO Friendly, we’re rolling over with glee at
the number of restaurants that allow dogs to
dine al fresco with their guardians. In compliance with state health codes, more and more
eateries are realizing that the way to their
patron’s hearts is through their stomachs and
at the end of a leash—Fido’s. Love me, love
my dog, as these dog moms and dads live
the Leave No Dog Behind® mantra to the al
fresco max!
TAP: A Gastropub gets four paws up from
Diane Silver and her Havanese, Cosmo. With
a relaxed atmosphere, dogs are welcome on
the spacious patio. “It is comfortable, and we
have plenty of room for Cosmo, either under
or next to the table,” Silver shared. “Located
in the midtown area of Atlanta, Georgia, they
serve a nice weekend brunch, and Cosmo
gets a big bowl of water.” TAP, A Gastropub,
1180 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30301;
more, Maryland. “We found this great tavern while weekending on a Fido-friendly houseboat
in Baltimore’s Harbor. Kooper’s even has a walk-up raw bar available on the sidewalk,” Kristian
Smith reported. Nola, her traveling pug, was able to sit and enjoy lunch outdoors at a table, a
special treat for the pooch who has table manners and lies quietly during dinner. “There is no
special menu for the dogs. But you can wash your dinner down with a Yellow Tail Ale.” Sounds
good to us, Kristian. Wags to ya’! Kooper’s Tavern, Historic Fell’s Point, 1702 Thames Street,
Baltimore, Maryland 21231; (410)563-5423; koopers.com.
Start spreading the news and take a bite out of the Big Apple with authentic New York City
pizza. The aptly named Corner Pizza in Brooklyn allows Fido to sit outside while dining. Stella
Panzarino loves their pizza, pasta, chicken parmagiana, eggplant and of course the heroes (aka
subs). “This is one of the most underrated pizza places. The food is great,” the proud dog mom
to Chico beamed. Although no doggy menu per se, Chico loves the pizza crust, Italian bread
and chicken cutlet. Manga, Chico! Corner Pizza, 226 Church Avenue, Brooklyn, New York,
11218; (800) 564-8018.
Cosmo kicks back
southern-style and eyes
up the TAP menu.
P h otograp h Y b y L ori G u sti n ( l e ft ) ; D ia n e S ilv e r ( rig h t )
Naming a
restaurant after
your dog
mean Fido
is welcome
(404) 347-2220; tapat1180.com/home.php.
Walk on water Riverwalk-style at San Antonio’s Waxy O’Connor’s Irish Pub & Eatery.
Lori Gustin told FIDO Friendly, “We take
Gus for long weekend walks on the Riverwalk
(four plus miles). Waxy O’Connor’s is a great
stop along our route to grab a bite to eat and
people watch.” With the feel of a true Irish
pub, Gustin said tourists see her dog Gus and
immediately smile. “We often chat with tourists who are missing their dogs.” Deep in the
heart of Texas, Waxy O’Connor’s brings the
luck of the Irish to visiting canine patrons.
Waxy O’Connor’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 234 Riverwalk, San Antonio, Texas 78205; (210) 2299299; waxyoconnors.com.
Naming a restaurant after your dog must
mean Fido is welcome, as is the case at Kooper’s Tavern at Historic Fell’s Point in Balti-
March 2014 - Digital Supplement 7
RV-ING with fido
unique utah
Get a jump on Spring at Canyonlands RV Park in Moab.
by Claud i n e J . R a n da z z o
Moab is well-known
for its breathtaking arched
rock formations; crosscountry skiers spotted
during wintertime, inset.
8 March 2014
If you go
Canyonlands RV Park
555 S. Main
Moab, UT
(800) 522-6848
www.canyonlandsrv.com
Full hook-up RV sites start at
$34/night.Dogs must be kept on
a six-foot maximum leash and
never left unattended.
Hole In the Rock
11037 South Highway 191
Moab, UT
(435) 686-2250
Detailed information on seven Fido-friendly
hikes such as Moab Rim, Hunter Canyon
and Corona Arch can be found at:
www.discovermoab.com/hiking.htm.
P hoto c o urt esy R o bert R i ber i a ( r ig ht )
R
V-ers looking for a reason to visit Moab, UT, may be interested
to know that the word “Moab” is biblical, meaning a land just
short of the Promised Land—it’s mentioned no less than 100
times in the Bible. While not normally given as a “reason to
visit” listed in travel books, it only takes one trip to the area to see why
it got its interesting name.
Spring comes early in Moab, due to the arid climate of this desert/
canyon region, which makes it the perfect destination for some springfever camping. Known mainly for being the home of Arches and
Canyonlands national parks, this area of the Southwest is a showplace
for rich, red canyons and royal, natural rock arches. Because national
parks are not very Fido-friendly, as they restrict dogs from all trails and
backcountry areas, the plan of action for enjoying this resonant geologic
area is to head straight to Canyonlands RV Park. From this home base,
Fido can enjoy hikes and not miss a bit of the scenery the area is famous
for. Moab is also a popular destination for Jeeps and other four-wheeldrive vehicles for some “rock crawling” adventure, and the annual Jeep
Safari takes place here each spring.
Hiking the Fisher Towers Trail in Moab.
Smart hikers in this region carry enough
water for themselves and for Fido.
Don’t be scared off by the “desert” description of Moab; there is still plenty
of greenery in Utah’s canyons, and the Canyonlands RV Park is chock-full of
excellent shade trees. In fact, all of the RV sites here have lovely trees as well as
concrete pads, cable TV and free Wi-Fi. There is also a swimming pool, coffee
and smoothie bar, and a playground.
The park is conveniently located in the heart of Moab, so exploring the town
with Fido in tow can be added to the “to do” list. At the top on this list should be
Hole In the Rock, a 5,000-square-foot home and gift shop/trading post carved
into a massive sandstone rock. Excavation of this unnatural wonder started
in the 1940s by Albert and Gladys Christensen, and today the home is open
for tours year-round. To say that this home is one of a kind is to barely begin
describing its many unique attributes.
If you two are looking for an exciting place to thaw out the trusty RV from the
winter chill, you won’t be disappointed with this warm and friendly destination.
Spring comes early in Moab,
due to the arid climate of
this desert/canyon region.
March 2014 - Digital Supplement 9
Best In Show
Around
the
World
Home (and Fido) is where
the heart is.
by Susan Sims, Publisher
A
nushka Wirasinha is a bestselling
Information Technology author
who has written more than 30 fiction and nonfiction books. Her books are used
in libraries and universities around the world
and are textbooks for B. Tech professional
exams. She has created numerous original
songs, and her first album Brave was released
in 2008. Anushka also works for the United
Anushka Wirasinha and Countess Igorr Fruitbat.
ing to fund meals and medicines for those
families needing assistance.
Just as important to helping people and pets
in need is her full-time companion and travel
buddy, Countess Igorr Fruitbat. Igorr, who
once sent former President George Bush’s
two Doberman guard dogs away with quite a
bit of fierce barking, is the typical small dog
with a big attitude and, who Anushka admit-
The Keep Your Pet At Home Project is
helping to fund meals and medicines
for those families needing assistance.
Nations and runs the Anushka Wirasinha
Foundation to encourage and help children
and adults in Asia become computer literate.
www.anushkawirasinhafoundation.org.
Her new endeavor is helping to keep animals at home who, due to the economic climate, have been winding up in shelters across
the country as owners endure financial hardships and become unable to care for their pets.
The Keep Your Pet At Home Project is help-
10 March 2014
tedly says, runs her life.
"I travel with my Chihuahua (Countess Igorr Fruitbat) almost every other week nationally and at least once a year internationally,"
said Anushka. "My work is all about traveling,
and I can’t imagine traveling without Igorr.
She takes the stress out of traveling for me.
"My favorite travel experience was my trip
with Igorr to Sri Lanka. There were some steps
we had to go through before "emBarking" on
our journey! My father applied and got an import permit from Sri Lanka. My vet in Boston
had to give a health certificate and I had to
send it to the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) to get it stamped. The
whole process was very quick and efficient. We
boarded Thai Airways from JFK and it was a
nonstop,17-hour flight to Bangkok International Airport. Igorr didn’t mind the long flight
as she went to sleep for most of the time. She
was completely pampered by the Thai airline
crew and packed in a few calories by snacking
in the first class lounge!
"We stayed at my parent’s home in Colombo, and she got to explore the gardens and
mingle with the varied array of exotic birds
that live there. One morning I got up to find
her sitting with a chipmunk in the room! It
almost looked as if she was asking it, 'Who
do you think you are…a Chihuahua?' It was
such fun, and the journey back to the USA
was also an adventure."
To see more images from this article, connect to
www.FIDOFriendly.com/features/Anushka.
l
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
For more information on things to do with Fido in
Philly, visit thephillydog.com.
Guests swing by this
chic hotel for a trendy
stay in an urban Mecca.
Wake Me Up
Before You Go-Go
Aloft elevates Fido.
P h otograp h Y co u rt e sy of A loft P h ilad e lp h ia A irport
E
clectic, easy breezy trendy and Fido a go-go. Travelers who appreciate unique style, innovative
design and loft-inspired décor will swoon for the bold and fresh atmosphere offered at Aloft
Philadelphia Airport.
With its 136 rooms in the City of Brotherly Love, Aloft Philadelphia is arguably one of the hippest and trendiest hotels these Fido travelers have ever encountered. From streamlined in-room
storage to signature platform beds, the contemporary-funk style interspersed throughout is uniquely
refreshing.
Aloft welcomes dogs via their Arf™ program. Dogs up to 40 pounds are permitted to break the
travel monotony with a far-out doggy bed, bowls, toys and treats. Never fear meatier mutts, special
waivers are permitted for dogs over 40 pounds via hotel management.
Hungry? This is a go-go style, so don’t sweat it or flip your wig; ease on over to Fuel by Aloft gourmet pantry™. Fresh food and fun fare are available 24/7—swing by for sweet treats, a java jolt, salads,
sandwiches and snacks to the max.
With nine-foot ceilings and extra-large windows, a bright, airy environment of natural light awakened our senses. We loved facing the windows, not the walls, as we drifted to sleep in the ultra-comfy
mattress with plush bedding. Choose a 280-square-foot king room or get extra hip and choose the
327-square-foot room with two queen beds.
This always wired puppy loved the in-room plug and play connectivity station. Told to “leave our
chargers at home,” Aloft provided a groovy one-stop hook-up station for our cell phones, laptops and
MP3 players and connected them all to a wall-mounted 42-inch flat screen TV. From wired to wet,
the oversize shower and full-length frosted glass panel allowed for free flow of light but maximum privacy. We got our groove on for oh-so-sudsy bath amenities from Bliss® Spa. Ready to crash or cruise?
Cruisers mosey on down to the w xyz bar for specialty cocktails, snack menu and rhythmic beats
ala sizzling deejay mixes. Never fret if cruising
isn’t up your alley: disco sounds were not heard
from our fourth floor “digs.”
Hit the ground running and take Fido for
a trek into the heart of Philly. Grab a cheese
steak hoagie, recreate Rocky Balboa’s famous
run and be immersed in the culture and history
of this very richly diverse Fido-friendly town.
Learn more about where to go and what to see
from the in-touch kiosks of Aloft’s lobby.
Ready for a recharge? Then go-go and run up
to Aloft’s gym or take a splish splash at the indoor
swimming pool. When ready to hit the blacktop, suds up at Aloft’s self-serve carwash. Aloft’s
open flow of features and hands-on style creates
a unique mood for each guest: choose either the
hum of activity or be removed from civilization.
Recharge and unwind, leash in tow, at this posh
pad for puppy peace and love. Aloft elevates to
new hotel heights, and we’re soaring.
STAY
Aloft Philadelphia Airport
4301 Island Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
19153; pets up to 40 pounds stay free,
waivers for pets over 40 pounds, inquire
with hotel; (267) 298-1700; starwoodhotels.
com/alofthotels/property/overview/
index.html?propertyID=3181.
EAT
Pat’s King of Steaks
1237 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia,
PA 19147; (215) 468-1546; outdoor seating;
Patskingofsteaks.com.
White Dog Café
3420 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA
19104; (215) 386-9224; Whitedog.com.
play
Benjamin Franklin Parkway
For dog walks and exploring, visit http://
www.ushistory.org/franklin/philadelphia/
parkway.htm for more information.
March 2014 - Digital Supplement 11
E
San Diego,
CA
Canine
Cocktail,
Anyone?
Downtown San Diego unleashes
plenty of “mutts-sees.”
The new,12-story Hotel Indigo, located in the
Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego.
by Arden Moore
12 March 2014
Downtown Dog Lover hosts and
showcases Fido-friendly events, eateries
and attractions in the city of San Diego.
www.downtowndoglover.com
For a list of clubs, calendar events, pet businesses,
hotels, restaurants, emergency vet locations and
other pet must-knows in San Diego County,
obtain your free copy of the San Diego Edition
of the Pet Lovers Handbook.
(760) 631-7886 or
www.petloverspublications.com
one block from Petco Park, the 12-story Hotel
Indigo does more than just put out a welcome
mat for friendly Fidos. The hotel prides itself on
not charging pet fees or setting size limits on its
canine guests.
This 210-room, full-service, lifestyle hotel
partners with the San Diego Humane Society
in promoting worthy causes for pets. General
Manager Chris Jones, a lifelong pet lover, shares
his office with Sandie, a fast-growing Labrador
mix he adopted from that shelter. Sandie, who
was named San Diego minus the “go,” eagerly
P hotographs co u rtesy of H otel I ndigo
I
n dog years, I am now the same age as Chipper, my Golden retriever/Husky mix, who is seven.
With our birthdays just one day apart, I knew the perfect place to celebrate with her and my
other dog, Cleo: downtown San Diego.
Proclaimed “America’s Finest City,” San Diego is also fast becoming a “mutts-see” destination
for dog lovers. The San Diego Padres play in Petco Park—a place that evokes the pun, “the house
that ‘woof’ built.” During every Sunday home game, the Padres showcase adoptive shelter dogs and
cats at its Power Alley location. During home games, the big screen draws plenty of applause when
it flashes photos of pets sporting Padres attire. Game day or no game day, leashed dogs are permitted to walk and sniff around Petco Dog Park, located in the outlining areas of the stadium beyond
centerfield.
Throughout the year, opportunities exist to participate in some type of Fido event in San Diego,
from surf competitions to Woofstock dog walks to costume contests. We recently participated in a
fundraising event for local animal shelters called the Pup Pub Crawl that had us making seven stops
at Fido-friendly places to raise money for animal groups.
Want to keep fit? No problem. San Diego is now home to a special workout class conducted by
personal trainer Dawn Celapino (and Jack, her Cairn terrier). Fido and his guardian can sprint, jump
and stretch together in an outdoor fitness class aptly called “Leash Your Fitness.”
Hungry and thirsty? Many eateries with outdoor cafés offer water bowls and even sport special
doggy menus in the famed Gaslamp Quarter, located in the heart of the downtown. Our favorites
include Funky Garcias, Tin Fish, The FleetWood and Gaslamp Tavern.
The city of San Diego is just about a 40-minute drive from my home in Oceanside, California.
Picking the place to host a birthday party for the human and Fido guest list was easy: the new Hotel Indigo that opened in July 2009. Acclaimed for its eco-friendly architecture and located just
IF YOU GO
SLEEP
Located in the Gaslamp Quarter,
just one block from Petco Park,
Hotel Indigo welcomes
well-behaved dogs of all sizes.
509 9th Avenue, San Diego, CA
92101; no pet fee; nightly rates start
at $102; hotel hosts Canine Cocktails
Tuesdays, 5–8pm; (619) 727-4000;
www.hotelindigo.com/sandiego.
EAT
Eat and drink with your dog
Wednesday from 5–7pm at
The FleetWood bar and restaurant.
Try the signature FleetWood Mojito
or Applejack cocktail and pick a
special treat for your pup from the
dog treat menu. 639 J Street, San
Diego, CA 92101; (619) 702-7700;
www.thefleetwood.com.
PLAY
Bring your mitt and your mutt to
watch the San Diego Padres play
at Petco Park. Once a year each
August, leashed dogs are welcomed
to attend the game. For reservations,
pick up an application at a Petco
store or call (619) 795-5198.
Stay fit with Fido by joining Leash Your
Fitness, a workout class for humans
and dogs. For class schedules and
locations. www.leashyourfitness.com.
P hotograph by arden moore
Sip wine each Wednesday from
5:30–9pm and bring your leashed
dog to the San Diego Wine and
Culinary Center; 200 Harbor Drive,
Suite 120, San Diego, CA 92101; (619)
231-6400; www.sdwineculinary.com.
Keep your dog looking great and
shop for pet necessities at City Dog,
545 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101;
(619) 269-0201; www.citydogsd.com.
Watch or participate in the annual
Surf Dog Surfathon Fund Raiser for
Helen Woodward Animal Center.
Held every September.
www.AnimalCenter.org.
WoofStock! Dog and People Festival
benefits Canine Companions for
Independence, held every April.
Balboa Park; www.cci.org/woofstock.
Cleo and Chipper pose in the
centerfield bleacher seats at Petco
Park, home of the San Diego Padres.
When the Padres play at home,
you can actually see and hear the
crack of the bat from this terrace.
serves as canine ambassador for all guests.
“I adopted Sandie three weeks before our hotel opened,” said Jones. “I saw how great she was
with kids, and I liked her friendly spirit. She loves coming to work with me every day.”
My birthday fell on a Tuesday, which happens to be the weeknight that Hotel Indigo hosts
its popular Canine Cocktails event from 5–8pm. Just ride the elevator up to the ninth floor
and enter the doors leading to the Phi Bar Terrace. Unleash Fido and take in the amenities: a
reflection pool, herb garden, drool-proof lounge seating and fire pits—all enclosed in glass walls
that offer stunning panoramic views of San Diego’s skyline.
At Canine Cocktails, no need for a designated driver for Fido. All canines are treated to
bottled water and healthy treats dished up by local vendors. Enjoy libations from the bar, including the signature Blue Indigo Phi martini. The hotel donates $1 per drink to the San Diego
Humane Society. And, local merchants stage drawings for free pet product giveaways.
“We welcome hotel guests and local residents to check out our Canine Cocktail event,” said
Jones. “When the Padres play at home, you can actually see and hear the crack of the bat from
this terrace.”
My friends surprised Chipper and me with a bone-shaped cake, balloons and off-key renditions of “Happy Birthday.” The terrace quickly filled with people and dogs, ranging in size from
confident Chihuahuas to mellow Great Danes. At evening’s end, I leashed Chipper and Cleo
and headed to our room, which featured a king-size bed, hardwood floor, 37-inch high-def TV,
spa-inspired shower, dog beds and treats (plus a supply of waste bags). This eco-friendly hotel
also provides a recycle container for trash.
I’m not sure which one of us fell asleep first, but celebrating our birthdays in Fido-friendly
San Diego definitely proved to be a memory-making and great decision.
Watch a video of the Canine Cocktail event at www.FIDOFriendly.com/destinations/hotel-indigo
March 2014 - Digital Supplement 13
Dog and Bruiser wait patiently for
Rosemary Gordon, who discusses
dog care with a seamstress in the
small pueblo of Colan, Peru.
part TWO of two
ROSEMARY’S BABIES:
Running with
the pack
s t o r y + p h o t o g r a p h y by Lo r r a i n e C h i t t o c k
Dog
scrunches up her eyes,
hoping she won’t be hit
by madly wagging tails
as five mongrels dash
past. Just released from
a huge run where they live, the Pack scatters in opposite
directions out into the huge expanse of Peruvian desert,
all except Twecky, who’s desperate for affection. If given
a choice, this little black and brown short-haired mutt
would prefer the touch of a person rather than the walk
I’m offering—her first opportunity for freedom in many
14 March 2014
months.
Twecky and the other members of the Pack are canines
Rosemary Gordon took in shortly after returning to her
land of birth after an absence of more than 40 years. But
Rosemary quickly discovered there was a limit to how
many animals she could adopt without being overrun.
When Dog, Bruiser and I arrive in the ocean resort of
Colan, Peru, in addition to the five Pack members we’re
walking, there are also 30 cats, three house dogs and six
other hounds in Rosemary’s immediate garden area,
including one who is lame.
Rosemary Gordon uses Peruvian vets to
perform sterilizations, and tries to entice
American veterinarians and vet techs to
volunteer their time and expertise whenever
possible. Dr. Victor Diaz, assisted by Marie
Luise, can perform 30 sterilizations in one day
in a small adobe room on Rosemary’s property.
The mission for Associacion Humanitaria San Fracisco de Asi,
the animal organization Rosemary’s created, is to be a sanctuary,
not a shelter. Instead of taking in more animals, she helps the
numerous strays of Colan and surrounding desert communities
by finding teachers at nearby schools who agree to add the
concept of kindness to animals into their curriculum, as well as
arm-trained, animal-loving Peruvians with doses of de-wormer
to take into the bigger community.
But Rosemary’s biggest project is organizing Trap Neuter
Return for dogs. TNR is the term commonly used in the United
States for trapping, spaying, then returning feral cats back
into their environment. In developing countries, it’s the only
workable solution for dealing with the overpopulation of dogs.
She uses a Peruvian vet with an assistant to do the surgeries, and
tries to entice American veterinarians and vet-techs to volunteer
their time and expertise whenever possible. For those wanting
to spend time by the ocean but prefer to leave with a feel-good
animal experience rather than a tan, the rustic adobe guesthouses
are perfect.
A feel-good experience is exactly what I’m getting. Twecky is
ecstatic when I reach my hand down to pet her. The Peruvian family
Rosemary has hired to feed the motley crew of animals while she’s
visiting family in South Africa considers the concept of touching
dogs an alien one. There’s logical reasoning behind this practice—
dogs carry disease, and water to wash with after handling them
isn’t always plentiful in desert environments. There’s also the
association dogs have with rabies. Since canines are a prime carrier
of the disease, the two have always been closely linked, resulting
in a fear of dogs and their subsequent mistreatment. Though
there are now vaccines for the life-threatening disease, money to
purchase an injection is sometimes costly in proportion to wages,
and veterinary offices are sometimes many hours away. As a result,
most dogs belonging to low- or middle-income families in this part
of the world are simply not vaccinated.
I’ve seen clearly how the “no touching” attitude is still in
practice. Time after time I watch people who are clearly devoted
to their hounds look down at their animals fondly, but rarely
reach out a hand to touch the waiting fur. Children are often the
exception. Is this a part of the new television culture? Ads for
dog food are regularly seen on television, along with films from
America that star happy canines. Even the most popular toilet
paper is embossed with puppies. Unfortunately, Peruvians have
also emulated the West by favoring Labradors or other pure
breeds. Indigenous dogs are often treated as a different and lesser
species.
Bruiser and Dog stand patiently waiting for me to maneuver
the bicycle Rosemary has loaned me outside the gate, and we
head toward one of the few community piles of garbage where
I know the dogs will have pounced in the hope there will be a
few new offerings. But there is little. Other dogs have already
devoured any scraps during the night.
In northern Peru, I see dogs skinnier than in all my travels.
People are far too poor to feed their canines with foreign brands
like Purina or even locally produced alimentos, the dry food sold
in all big cities, so the diet of many owned canines is a cooked
yam and whatever scraps come off the kitchen table—though often
there are none.
March 2014 - Digital Supplement 15
The mission for the animal organization Rosemary’s
created is to be a sanctuary, not a shelter.
Noe, an animal loving Peruvian who works
for Associacion Humanitaria San Fracisco de
Asi, takes the concept of kindness to animals
into the larger community, along with doses of
de-wormer, and flea and tick repellent. These
boys have brought their dog to Noe’s outdoor
clinic using a piece of rope instead of a lead.
“Vamos, let’s go!” I shout, herding the Pack away from garbage,
and bicycling into the wide open desert along tracks of soft
powder compressed by horse carts. Once the Pack discovers that
the bicycle and I represent fun, it’s easy keeping them together, a
task helped by Bruiser, who assumes the role of dominant male—a
status he earns by his presence, age and size, which is slightly
larger than dogs in Central America, Colombia and Ecuador, the
other countries we’ve traveled through.
I’ve been warned by more than one dog expert in the states that
taking so many dogs out at one time is an accident waiting to happen.
But the five dogs in the Pack are already a well-cemented team and
get along with Mamacita and Lucy, Rosemary’s two house dogs. Dog
and Bruiser are a known entity. Being right next to the desert means
we’re immediately away from all forms of habitation. Our route then
takes us across to the beach and empty vacation homes, and back to
the guesthouse by eight a.m. when the sun starts to burn, and people
go the distance
If you’d like to give the gift of time while experiencing
the wonders of Peru, contact Rosemary Gordon
through her website: www.ahsfa.org. Donations are
being collected for hiring a local Peruvian to walk the
Pack on a regular basis, and for providing medical
supplies for Rosemary’s organization. You can send
checks to Rosemary, or use your credit card at author’s
website: www.OnaMissionFromDog.com/Peru.htm.
16 March 2014
begin emerging from their homes. I weigh the odds and predict
that as long as we don’t encounter new dogs, there are few other
elements to worry about in this vast space. I calculate incorrectly.
Riding along the beach, we pass an area where some fisherman
have a boat and a few dogs who stay on shore, patiently awaiting
fish too small to sell. I hustle the Pack quickly past this stretch to
an area frequented by dog-less fishermen. I’ve brought a plastic
bag to collect the heads of larger, soft-boned fish. Initially I cooked
what I brought home, then I realized that dogs have been eating raw
fish for thousands of years. The Pack, along with Dog and Bruiser,
happily devours the pescado no matter how it’s served, and within
weeks, their coats take on a new, healthier shine.
For the afternoon and longer walks we head farther out, and I sit
and watch, privileged to study a pack of dogs loose in the desert,
without fences confining them. Behaviors forgotten between Dog
and Bruiser reappear, and Bruiser begins grooming not only Dog,
but others in the Pack. It’s all about sniffing crotches, panting
breath, licking gums, rolling on dead animals and marking
territory. It is wild.
Then the unknown element emerges. Twecky comes into heat
even though she’s been spayed. Rosemary had discovered that
surgery done imprecisely is the downside of using locally trained
vets. Not all of Twecky’s ovaries have been removed, so she is still
producing estrogen and progesterone. Since there is no longer a
uterus she can’t conceive, but her body behaves like it’s possible.
Bobby and Rocky are suddenly interested in Twecky; Bruiser is,
too. “What on earth?” I say, as Bruiser begins courting Twecky.
Castrated five years before, he’s forgotten what the exact
procedure is for mounting, and day after day he’s unsuccessful
in his efforts. It’s only when a male who is not a member of
our Pack approaches that Bruiser gets an extra dose of virility
and his conquest is a triumph. I turn away. It seems almost
indecent to watch a member of my pack cavorting. Dog
disagrees, and stares fascinated. When the menage a trois is
repeated a few days later, Twecky takes offense at Dog getting
so close and snaps—a horrible mistake. Dog retaliates by
snarling. The rest of the Pack, who’d been nowhere near the
scene, respond immediately. No longer are they a cohesive
group of compatible dogs. Instead, this is a time to play out
old grievances by nipping, biting and tearing at Twecky, who
is the lowest in the hierarchy.
I make another miscalculation. I plunge in, thinking it will
take too much time to bring my bicycle over to use as a barrier
between Twecky and the bites she’s trying to parry. I kick
as much as I can, grab tails to extricate the worst aggressors,
all while trying to pull Twecky from the melee. The situation
is everything we fear and try to tame from our pets. At heart
they are animals, and our hold on them is tenuous—not unlike
“International Dog Traveler
of the Month,” Michaela Dick,
seen with Thabo in North Africa.
attempts to control our own species.
And then just as quickly as it began, the frenzy stops, and I
hold a panting Twecky in my arms. Despite some blood and
cuts here and there, the damage is minimal considering the
vehemence displayed. The run home is peaceful, Twecky is
separated from the others until she’s no longer in heat, and
normalcy returns.
After six weeks, I have to drive to the Peruvian border a few
days before Rosemary is due to arrive home. When I return to
Colan, she’s gone to visit cousins. I desperately want to touch
the Pack, and they me. But I’ve given up my key and with
Rosemary not around, there’s no way to enter. A section of the
back fencing has a few holes an inch or two in width, which
the dogs use to peer out into the world. I go there quickly,
the dogs howling wildly as they always do if I’ve gone to the
nearby town. I put my fingers through a hole, and they jostle
for position trying to get close, as desperate to sniff me as I
am for any connection with them. But I can’t stay. My journey
is southward. There’s no room in the van for more dogs. After
half an hour, and with tears streaming down my face, I turn
to leave. This is the last time I’m to see the beloved Pack.
International Dog
Traveler of the Month
Not everyone goes to the end of the
world for a dog. Michaela Dick did
just that, traveling from her homeland
of Germany to South Africa, where
she adopted Thabo, a Rhodesian
Ridgeback, before embarking on their
first journey in North Africa. They learned
to work as a team while traveling
together through Morocco, across
Saharan sand dunes to Algeria, then
Tunisia.
Discovering that traveling
internationally with her best friend
was as good as the fantasy, Michaela
decided to explore yet another
continent with Thabo. So she took a year
off from her job at an advertising agency
and made another fantasy into reality
by purchasing a Land Rover. Michaela
then shipped her pack to Buenos Aires
in South America before heading to
Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the
world. The team then traveled through
Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil
for the next year, before returning to
Germany to prepare for the next trip,
destination to be decided!
March 2014 - Digital Supplement 17
Oogy has taught
us that you can
go through, as
everybody must,
the most horrific
experience and
come out okay on
the other side.
18 August 2011 [ best of ]
I
first saw Oogy on a 2008 Valentine’s Day
episode of Oprah. I was instantly in love
with the big dog with one ear whose face
looked slightly deformed. As the large
dog climbed onto the lap of owner Larry Levin, it was clear to me that Oogy was a special
dog in more ways than one. Although at first
blush, Oogy seemed an unlikely candidate for
such enamor, I was smitten just the same.
Perhaps it was the background of the
former bait dog puppy who had been so badly
mauled, and who would require several surgeries to help heal his wounds, that pulled at my
heartstrings. The mauling had left him with
one ear and a broken jawbone, which was partially removed. Or perhaps it was his adoptive
family who appeared with him that day, people whose lives had clearly been touched and
changed forever with their unconditional love
for Oogy. Whatever it was, thoughts of Oogy
stayed with me for days, so it was with great
excitement when I learned, two years later,
Larry had written a book about Oogy, Oogy:
The Dog Only a Family Could Love, which
made The New York Times best sellers' list.
Former bait dog is now a model canine citizen helping
children understand the negative effects
of prejudice and stereotyping.
By Susan Sime,
publisher
Photography by Herman Estevez
FIDO Friendly: How old was Oogy when you
first saw him at your vet’s office?
Larry Levin: Somewhere between three and
four months old.
FF: What made you think he would make a
great addition to your family?
LL: The fact that there was this instant connection—it’s hard to describe. I sound silly
when I describe it this way, but this was a dog
who had never known human kindness and
had been left to die. And something kept this
dog going. He was alone in his cage, bleeding
to death for five to seven days without food,
water, medicine or any attention at all. Something kept him going, and when he met us, it was
like “there you are, I’ve been waiting for you.” The connection between me and my boys who
were twelve at the time, and Oogy, was instantaneous, and there was never a doubt that he was
a part of the family.
FF: Oogy is certainly an unusual name for a dog; how did you choose that name for him?
LL: I was driving home after getting approval to adopt this horrifically mangled pup. My first
response on seeing him was to assume he had been in a fire and that the left side of his face had
melted, and I wondered, ‘Ok, what are we going to call him?’ In less time than it takes to tell it,
here is what happened: I said to myself, ‘That is one ugly dog’ and started to laugh. He really was
grotesque, but I knew I could not call him ‘Ugly’ and immediately thought of a derivative from
the days of my youth: ‘oogly,’ as in, ‘that is one oogly sweater.’ From there, it immediately shifted
to Oogy, and I knew I had it.
March 2014 - Digital Supplement 19
Larry Levin and
Oogy at home.
Noah and Dan
Levin with Oogy.
Oogy: The Dog
Only a Family Could Love
By Larry Levin
$19.99; Available at amazon.com.
Watch a video of Oogy at:
youtube.com/watch?v=Yfvxk_n6lgA
20 August 2011 [ best of ]
"when you meet Oogy, your heart
goes out to this incredible dog…
he's well past any of the cruel
circumstances that he was part of.
Had you been involved with animal rescue
before?
To know Oogy is to Love Oogy!"
You have to understand that from the moment
he came home, none of us saw his disfigurement
except through reactions of other people. He was
one of us. The fact that he was a visual oxymoron
was of absolutely no matter to us.
FF:
LL: When we met Oogy and fell in love with him
on the spot, the concept of rescue had never entered into our consciousness. It’s something I have
learned about since the publication of the book.
That’s been the major benefit of the book, all the
amazing people who we have been put in touch
with who devote themselves to rescue. I always
tell people that we didn’t do anything that a lot of
other people would not have done. We were just in
the right place at the right time. And my experience has confirmed that. We just fell in love with
this little pup; it wasn’t thinking in terms of rescue,
it was just that we wanted this dog in our lives.
FF: How was the Oprah experience for you?
LL: It was a one of a kind experience; there’s noth-
ing like it. A young woman called saying she is with
Harpo Productions, which I had never heard of.
She said she saw a piece on the Internet on Oogy,
and they were thinking of doing a story about
him. We talked for about 15 minutes and she said,
‘That’s great, can you come next Tuesday?’ There’s
no way I could come out there next Tuesday. My
wife’s an attorney working full-time, one boy’s on
the wrestling team and the other is playing La
Crosse. Maybe by April. She said, ‘No, we want to
put him on our Valentine’s Day show, and we are
shooting that on Tuesday.’ I said we just couldn’t
get there on Tuesday, and asked ‘What’s the name
of your show?’ and she said it’s the Oprah Winfrey
Show. I said we would be there!
So I drove Oogy out. I talked to our vet, Dr.
Bianco. I had known for a long time that Oogy
couldn’t be put in a box. He can’t be crated because he associates being in a box with having
his ear torn off. So I drove him out through a
snowstorm and spent the night in Cleveland. It
took 15 hours to get there. My wife, Jenny, and
the boys flew out, and we rendezvoused at the
hotel on Monday night. The limousine picked
us up at 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, and we were
there all day.
– Herman Estevez, Photographer –
to write a book and share Oogy’s story?
LL: About ten days after the Oprah show aired, I got a call from a young man who asked if I had
thought about writing about this. I have always loved writing as far back as I remember and in fact,
planned on writing when the boys went away to college as a way to fill my time. Within three to
four months, he had sold the proposal, and I worked on the book for two years with an editor who
challenged me tremendously. The book went through four major re-writes, and we ended up with
what you’ve seen.
FF: How is the book doing, and how has it changed your lives?
LL: The book has spent 10 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list; it was named in People’s
Magazine’s Best Of and O magazine recommended it. It’s been on several ‘best of’ lists’ and published
in the UK, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, and it’s being published in Asia. We opened up a Facebook page for
Oogy, and I have been in touch with people all over the world talking about rescue issues, and that’s
been the major benefit; that’s been the major change.
FF: Tell me about taking Oogy to the local schools.
LL: I do it as often as I can. I tell them his story, and I talk about prejudices, about dog fighting, and
based on my experience, I relate that story to them and tell them that you cannot judge a dog based
on breed any more then you can tell a person based on ethnicity. It’s all individual, and that’s what
they should look for.
FF: Do the kids participate and ask questions, and do they come up afterward to pet Oogy?
LL: It’s always a wonderful experience for me to meet with young kids because they are so open and
so eager to learn, and I enjoy the challenges they set before me in terms of trying to explain things to
them. They don’t have to come up. Go on Oogy’s Facebook page, and there are at least two sessions
from schools that we’ve been to, and you’ll see. Last week, we were in a school in South Jersey, and
while the students were filing in and taking their seats in the grandstands, Oogy was up in the stands
with them, wandering around. He loves the attention.
FF: At first glance, Oogy appears to be a pit bull, but I understand he is a Dogo, a breed I am not
familiar with.
LL: The Dogo breed is one of the four breeds banned in the UK. They are considered a bully breed,
and no one under the age of 18 can walk one of those dogs in public. Over 18, you have to get a
special permit, and the dog has to wear a muzzle. Oogy is a perfect spokesdog for the perils of breed
prejudice because there is no more loving, loyal, devoted animal than the one that sleeps next to
me every night.
FF: What have you and your family learned from Oogy?
LL: Oogy has taught us that you can go through, as everybody must, the most horrific experience and
come out okay on the other side. You can’t draw conclusions from the events themselves, you have
to wait and see what’s going to happen. Oogy is a constant source of encouragement. It’s quite an
experience to meet this dog. Words don’t do it justice.
FF: At what point did you determine you wanted
March 2014 - Digital Supplement 21