Maddie with owner Bob Paris

                                                      Maddie with Vest on

                                                       Maddie 

      Walk into Lowes in Martell and chances are that you’ll see a person with their dog on a leash. Carmel California is cashing in on the popularity of dogs. They promote Carmel as a dog friendly city. Dogs are allowed in all restaurants and stores. In restaurants there are separate sitting areas for people who wish to dine with their dogs.

     So when I spotted a service dog at a restaurant in Jackson I knew I had my next story. She was liying proudly with her red, white and blue vest (Identifying her as a service dog) next to Bob Paris a Vietnam War vet with PTSD. Bob stated he was a medic in Vietnam between 1966 and 1968. Anyone who served in Nam could have PTSD but as a medic that alone would qualify a person for a VA disability.

      Maddie is a 13 year old full blood golden retriever. She has been a service dog her whole life. Her mother, Haley, was a service dog that Bob had before Maddie. We did the interview in a restaurant and Maddie throughout this interview lay at Bob’s side.  She would look up to see if Bob was going to give her a piece of pork, her reward for accompanying him.

       Maddie shares her home with Bob in Cameron Park but has frequented Jackson for most of her life.   Maddie became qualified easily as a service dog because of her mother, Haley who had been a service dog for Bob for 16 years. In addition there has to be genetic traits passed on between generations. Bob stated Maddie easily adjusted to the life of a service dog and was certified by the VA as a puppy.

        Service dogs are always at their owner’s side. A characteristic according to Bob is that a service dog be highly intelligent, and very friendly. While we were conducting the interview people would notice her lying down next to the booth and want to come and pet her. Just like any dog Maddie loves to be petted. Bob indicates he takes her to the VA hospital where disabled vets love to see her and she loves to see them. She is a special dog and a dog’s love is good therapy for anyone.

      Maddie loves the same things as other dogs. She loves chasing balls and playing with other dogs and chasing squirrels. Bob has a swimming pool that Maddie loves to use not only for recreation but to cool off on a hot day or in some cases even in the middle of winter to swim. Maddie stays close to Bob sleeping in bed with him, always vigilant, to make sure Bob is ok.

      Maddie loves traveling; she has been all over the US but never out of the country. Bob who does have occasion to travel outside the US doesn’t take Maddie not only because of  the paperwork required but also the dangers of diseases that her immune system isn’t prepared to handle.

      One look at Maddie and a person has to love her. She is very proud to be at Bob’s side and wears her service dog vest proudly. Bob is proud to be a Vietnam vet and she is proud to be a service dog to a Vet. Her vest that indicates she is a service dog displays the stars of the US flag and the patches that say she’s a therapy dog of a Vietnam vet.   Another patch indicates that we must never forget those who were POW’s and MIA’s in every conflict.

        Bob is very proud he served his country in Vietnam and Maddie is happy to aid Bob in his everyday life.

     Anyone interested in featuring your dog in this column Email me at dudseth@volcano.net

Naika

 

                                         Naika with owners Al, and Kiko Stewart

                                                            Naika 

     April has arrived and with it spring flowers and refreshed souls. Everyone who has been hibernating all winter can now be seen on the streets of the Motherlode. People aren’t the only ones who love spring, so do dogs. On one warm spring day I was at WalMart and saw what looked like a bear on a leash. I had to ask what kind of dog that huge black furry animal was. Al Stewart said his name was Naika, a 150 pound Newfoundland.

     The breed is known for their giant size, tremendous strength, calm dispositions, and loyalty. Originally they were used as working dogs helping fisherman in Newfoundland Canada with their nets. Once you see them you can understand why.

       Al made mention that Naiki was very protective so be very careful around him. It didn’t take much to convince me that a dog the size of a bear was best approached with caution. We agreed to meet on Naika’s turf and do this story.

        Naika resides in Pine Grove and shares his turf with Al, and Kiko Stewart, Krystal Gusman and Kiana Haunio and three other dogs. For those unfamiliar with Hawaiian culture Kiko is native Hawaiian and hence all the Hawaiian names. Al and Kiko met while he was stationed in Hawaii and are Motherlode transplants having moved here from the Bay Area.

        It was a warm spring day when I arrived at the Stewart’s home. Having been warned of  Naika’s protective nature, I was cautious when I exited the car with my camera slung across my shoulder. Suddenly Naika came running at me full gallop. I suddenly got the feeling a quarterback has when he is being chased by a 280 pound linebacker. Naika went after my camera case hitting me at full gallop. Like a quarterback I never left my feet but did feel the blow. Once he decided I was a friend we went into the house to complete the interview.

    Naika is big and has the run of the yard and the house. Like most pets of dog lovers he is allowed on the furniture which is covered with his favorite blankets. When Naika is on the sofa there is only room for one more person. (barely). Imagine a bear running around the house, and you have Naika.

     The Stewarts also own Samson, a one year old full blooded Newfoundland. Naika and Samson look like twins but are not. Samson is really friendly to everyone and would love to play with you. He has absolutely no aggression. This can be challenging since Samson is 130 pounds.  Getting into a wrestling match with Samson it would be necessary to know a few moves they taught in high school wrestling. 

     Once Naika had become comfortable with me I was sitting on the couch and he would approach me as a friend. Still he was always making sure I was no threat. Once he decided he had nothing to fear from me he hopped up on the couch and curled up.

     There is rumor that the breed was created by Norwegians first landing in the new world to scare off intruders.  It has never been proven but to look at Naika and Samson a person might think the rumor true. In reality they are very calm and docile dogs. Before I left the interview both Naika and Sampson had gotten to know me and were more than happy to have their pictures taken.

 

 

                                                           Tank with owner Bill Mix

 

 

Tank

 

     If one thing stands out about the mother lode it’s the history. To the naked eye history is everywhere from the National Hotel in Jackson to the old Pioneer store on highway 88, to the blue highways leading to West Point. What is not obvious is the history residing in her people and her dogs. Like history dogs abound throughout the county. There are many pure breeds and mixed breeds riding in the cars all excited about traveling even a few miles. One breed that is very popular is the Labrador retriever.

     Owning a Lab, where I grew up in South Dakota, is a right of passage. Most families have at least one be it yellow or black hanging out around the house. They are so prevalent because of Pheasant and duck hunting that they are a status symbol. In the 60’s, when I was coming of age, almost every child had a lab or maybe it was the other way around in that every lab had a child. Irregardless it was always understood that dogs and children go together.

     The reason for that was Labs are friendly and intelligent child proof dogs.  Oh yes they do hunt but hunting season is only 4 months long. Thus parents had the advantage for eight months the dog would entertain their children. That was before TV sort of took precedence. But through all the changes Labs still win out as the choice for a loyal friend. The TV gets turned off at bedtime meanwhile a dog sleeps either beside the bed or on the bed with their gentle heartbeat and warmth comforting their owners. Dogs are the loyalist lifelong friend a person can have.

     One such Lab, Tank, has spent his entire life in and around Jackson. He is a companion for Bill Mix who has owned three labs before the “Tanker” came into his life as a puppy at age 6 weeks. Tank was born to a Breeder in Valley Springs 11 years go. Bill who is the owner of Campbell Service Centrt on the corner of highway 88 and 49 has always had a lab lying on the floor at the garage. 

    As soon as he brought Tank home from the breeder his next stop was at Bills job. Bill taught Tank the rules of the road such as no wandering off the property and Tank being intelligent and eager to please learned quickly. These days Tank is not as mobile as he once was at 6 weeks but at 11 years he still gets around. Tank has a round dog bed next to the workbench at the front of the car lifts. Next to that is his food and water bowl. These days Tank is content to sit and watch the world go by. He occasionally will stretch his legs by stroll out to the front of the station but quickly returns back inside. He does not want to be far from his best friend.

    Tank was not always so sedentary, like all of us seniors he had younger days. Tank who grew up near Volcano used to love chasing tennis balls. Also as a country dog he loved exploring the property where Bill lives. Even though he loves the country Tank would rather share it with the humans and animals that reside there. He always has been a lover.

    Tank quickly adapted to his split life between the country and the city. In the mornings he would wait by Bills truck ready for the trip into Jackson. Once given the word he would hop into the truck tail wagging and head for the shop. It didn’t really matter where they were going but Tank’s favorite place as long as he was with Bill was at the corner of highway 88 and 49.

   These days Bill has to lift Tank into the truck as Tank’s legs are losing their strength with the passing years. But his eagerness to head into Jackson has not diminished. He loves watching the world go by. He has the occasional repeat customers who drop by to just say hi and give him the occasional pat on the head but he is content to be with Bill wherever that may be.  

    If you have a dog and would like us to do a story on him/her, please send me an e-mail at dudseth@volcano.net