February 2012

Meet Birki Jenkins!

• Birki’s full name is actually “Birkenstock.” His mom wanted a German name for her new Dachshund puppy, so while she was putting on her shoes one day the perfect name struck her, Birkenstock! .
• Birki has been a part of the Jenkins family for most of his life. His mom received an email that neighbors of a friend in Durand, MI were selling long-haired Dachshund puppies. Within hours of receiving the email, plans were set for 2 week old Birki to become a Jenkins.
  
• A perfect day for Birki is a day spent at Doggy Daycare and Spa. A close second is being outside up north and enjoying his wading pool and other doggy friends.
• Any squeaky toy is Birki’s favorite toy. He loves to fetch, play tug of war, or simply hunting for the hidden toy.
• Birki knows how to sit, down-stay, and if told to “wait” will wait to eat a treat left only inches from his nose until he is told he may have it.
• His favorite rule to ignore is “Birki, get in your house.” When his parents are getting ready to go out, silly Birki will sit outside his crate and wait for his treat until he goes in. However, he doesn’t “charge” daddy, only mommy Birki’s best friend is a golden retriever named “Tessa” who he met after only 4 days of being with his new “Mom & Dad. Their favorite game to play is tag.
• Birki also has two Basset hound friends in the neighborhood who stop by to play, weather permitting. He also likes to watch for any of his furry friends or people friends who might walk by. He will make quite a ruckus if he knows anyone who walks in front of his house. His mom has met many of Birki’s daycare friends’ parents this way.
• Birki’s “brother”, Nick, is home from California once a year and while he is home, Birki is Nick’s shadow. After that he is back to being mom’s pal though.
• The most exotic vacation Birki has been on was a family reunion in the U.P. of Michigan. He has also been to mid-Illinois when he was a puppy. However, as long as a vehicle is going somewhere, Birki wants to be in it, no matter where it is going.
• When enjoying time up at the lake, Birki’s parents could never understand why he always insisted on having his own chair. After perusing the Doggy Daycare and Spa facebook page, they discovered that Birki sits in his own chair here too! Now they always make sure to get Birki out his own chair.
• Birki’s Valentine is anybody who gives him love and treats!

January 2012

Meet Buddy Dutka!

I, Buddy would like to thank my family, my friends at Doggy Daycare and Spa, and all those that made this moment possible. It’s not every day in a dog’s life when such a prestigious honor is bestowed. I will wear my title of “Dog of the Month” with pride and continue trying my best to be a model citizen in the canine community.

With that being said, my story goes like this….

My formal name is Buddy Dutka but my dad calls me Boudreaux, Budster and sometimes Bud Face. My former family gave me my name long before I met my now dad, Jeff. I was 4 years old when he adopted me and we decided to Buddy as my name (we vote on everything and Jeff always asks my opinion).

The reason I needed to find a new home is because my former family had a baby that was very allergic to me. He had trouble breathing no matter what my old family tried. I was sad to leave but who would’ve known the fun and adventure that awaited me in Lansing! Jeff got an email about me needing a new home and he took the long drive to Columbus, Ohio to check me out. I ended up with a great new owner, a set of fantastic grandparents that let me come over whenever I want, and a whole slew of new friends, both 2-legged and 4-legged.

My idea of the perfect day starts with sleeping in (on my dad’s bed of course), having some breakfast and going for a car ride. If dad isn’t taking me to play with my friends at Doggy Daycare then I’m probably going to meet new friends at the park or to play disc golf on a nice sunny day. When I’m at home I love playing with my yellow duck toy. He talks to me when I squeeze him and he is my only furry buddy that had been able to withstand my “tough love” over the years.

Like all dogs do, I consider myself very well trained and behaved. I know sit, shake and lay down. Sometimes though I get so excited to see my friends that I just have to jump up to say hello, and if you are not paying attention I may slip you a sneaky smooch!

As long as you promise not to tell anyone, especially my dad, I will tell you the rule I like to break the most….. I cannot stop kissing everybody!! Even if you don’t care for the wet sloppy goodness of a puppy kiss, I will give you one anyway! Most people smile and laugh when this happens but sometimes people are grumpy. That’s ok, they just need more SMOOCHES!!

At the moment, I do not have any brothers or sisters but I play with my friend Lucy the Rat Terrier all the time. I know my dad wants me to have a furry sibling but as long as we live in that sardine can dad calls an apartment there is room for only me!

The last thing I would like to tell you all about me is that I have more love in my heart than I possibly know what to do with. Jeff often reminds me that he’s never met a dog quite like me and that he loves me very much, which is good because I love him too.

In summary, I love treats, people, dogs, cats, smooches, fun, walks, sunshine, comfy spots, car rides, scratches, new adventures, and treats….. oh wait, did I mention that already?

Woof,
-Buddy

December 2011

Meet Dodger Cruthers!

• Dodger Stuart Cruthers is a miniature schnauzer who has been attending Daycare on Tuesdays since January 2011!
• Dodger was named after the character “The Artful Dodger” from Oliver Twist because of his intelligence, great problem solving skills, and enthusiastic charm. He shares his middle name, Stuart, with his Grampy who is one of his favorite playmates. He also responds to the nickname Sprocket!
• Dodger’s Mom grew up with miniature schnauzers and had been thinking about getting adopting one of her own for a long time. One day, while browsing puppies online, she found the breeder whom her parent’s had adopted their “Buddy” from nine years prior. She drove an hour to see the new additions and Dodger’s fate was sealed. He was a perfect match from the start. His Mom fell in love with his light brown eyes and sweet personality. “Uncle Buddy” came along for the first meeting and Dodger was immediately enamored. Dodger’s Mom went home and quickly puppy proofed the house and yard to prepare for her new family member. The adjustment went extremely well and he was a delight to have in the house!
• When he’s not playing with his friends Lily and Birki at Daycare, Dodger likes to follow his Mom around the house and help with chores or spend time cuddling. He also enjoys watching “dog tv” (the neighbors across the street through the window). When it is nice outside, he loves to be outdoors… even if it is simply sunbathing. During the cold weather months, he prefers lying in front of the fireplace, and will even bark if it isn’t on.
• Born with killer jaws, Dodger cannot have any stuffed toys or any rubber toys with parts he can rip off. Therefore, he is limited mostly to balls and a few squeaky toys that have stood the test of time. His favorite toy is a soccer ball that he chases and pounces on with his front feet. He will entertain himself by throwing his toys down the stairs or on the treadmill and chasing after them. He also likes getting his toys “stuck” and retrieving them.
• Dodger is a smart schnauzer who knows how to sit, shake, lie down, and stay. He catches onto things very easily and remembers commands. He has attended several obedience classes and will begin advance obedience soon.
• Dodger frequently enjoys vacations to the family cottage in Alpena. He absolutely loves being up there to see his family. He spends his days sleeping on the boat, lying in the sun, and of course, playing with everyone.
• When he’s riding in the car to a frequent destination (such as Doggy Daycare and Spa), Dodger will bark and get upset if his Mom takes a different route!
• Over the month of December, Dodger plans to attend every possible party that he can. He has promised that he will not bark at Santa and will allow him into the house. On Christmas Day, he will be at his Grandparent’s house enjoying being the center of attention.

November 2011

Meet Max McDonnell!

• Max McDonnell is a big black 120 pound Labrador Retriever that has been attending Doggy Daycare and Spa every Monday and Friday since March 2003 when he was only 5 months old.
• Max was brought home in his Dad’s coat pocket when he was only 8 weeks old. We find it hard to believe he was ever small enough to fit in a pocket of any kind.
• When deciding on a name for his new puppy, Max’s Dad decided on “Max” because it was simple with a harsh consonant sound that would be easy for a puppy to recognize. At the time, Max’s Dad did not realize that “MAX” is the most popular (and therefore the most common) male dog name in the world, so when they go to the dog park, it gets a bit confusing.
• Big Max is affectionately referred to as “Scary Monster” by his Doggy Daycare and Spa family. He earned this nickname with his frightening antics which include, but are not limited to destroying the following items: phones, books, sweatshirts, fencing, gym curtains, and numerous balls. He also initiates new DD&S team members with the sole intention of knocking them to the ground.
• A perfect day in Max’s world includes going to the beach (or any other body of water), chasing things in the water, followed by naps in the sand… then rinse and repeat. He also enjoys having several people to play with simultaneously so he can run and back and forth making sure nothing has changed. When possible, he enjoys eating human food (pizza is his favorite) and sneaking into someone’s bed to snore the night away.
• Max’s favorite toys, of course, have to do with food. He loves Kongs with stuff smeared inside and he has a ball that has small holes in it that treats will fall out of when rolled properly. It didn’t take Max long to figure out how to get the treats to fall out of the ball: toss in air, crash on floor, roll, roll, roll. His favorite time to play with this toy in the middle of the night when Dad is sleeping. Crash!!! – roll, roll, roll - eating sounds. Crash!! – roll, roll, roll – eating sounds.. and on and on.
• When garbage day comes around at the McDonnell house, his Dad has to go check out Max’s favorite hiding spot under the bed to see what he dug out of the trash that week. He will usually find empty pizza boxes, old shoes, and food. And once he found the burners off the stove. Oh Max!
• Max has traveled to many places in Michigan, including the Great Lakes. Whenever he sees a large body of water out of the car window, he starts running in circles inside of the car, which has nearly killed the Dad-Dog duo on several occasions.
• Max used to love peanut butter until he had to have pills after knee surgery. In an attempt to hide the medicine, Max’s Dad would smear peanut butter on them. He quickly became wise to this, so now when the peanut butter jar is opened, Max slowly backs away.
• Max plans to spend Thanksgiving with his Grandfather who will slip him turkey under the table.

October 2011

Meet Buster Brown Agler!

• Buster Brown is a Rat Terrier-Boston Terrier mix that has been attending Doggy Daycare and Spa since he was only 7 months old.
• After his family lost their previous dog, they were lonely for another 4-legged friend. A friend of the family saw Buster Brown on the internet and told his “Mom” about him. She traveled all the way to Mt. Pleasant and brought him to his new home in April of 2010. He was already named Buster Brown and his new family thought it so fitting that they didn’t change it.
• Besides coming to Doggy Daycare, Buster Brown’s idea of a perfect day is playing outside all day and searching the backyard for his furry friends, the chipmunks and the squirrels.
• Buster Brown’s favorite toy is an orange ball with legs and feet that the family refers to as “Orange Man.” Buster Brown has mom or dad throw the Orange Man and he will fetch it every time.
• Being the cute little dog his is, Buster Brown loves to show off all of his cool tricks. He knows all his basics like sit, shake and rollover, but he can also walk on his back legs and dance around in circles too!
• As cute as he is, Buster Brown is also a bit of a rascal. He sometimes gets himself into trouble by chewing up his Dad’s shoes and stealing Kleenex.
• While Buster Brown doesn’t have any furry siblings, he does have a neighbor dog named Chloe!
• Buster Brown is a cuddly little dog who likes to be covered up with a blanket and will even cover himself up with one… including his head!
• When Buster Brown is enjoying a belly rub, he will actually grab your hand with his front paws and pull it back to him for more when you stop!
• For Halloween, Buster Brown will be dressing up in a costume yet to be determined and will visit Grandma’s house for some Treats. (and hopefully no tricks!)

September 2011

Meet Kayla Kareti!

• Kayla is a 5 ½ year old Chocolate Labrador Retriever who has been attending daycare at Doggy Daycare and Spa since 2006.
• Kayla was a surprise Christmas present for her mother one year, and surprised she was! Her mom decided to name her Lady McKayla because she wanted at least one family member to have an Irish name.
• Some of Kayla’s favorite activities when she isn’t attending daycare are going for walks with her Mom and Dad and trying to talk them into giving her all their people food…she is a Lab after all! She also enjoys playing with her favorite toy, her Frisbee. She always has dad throw it and runs after to catch it. When Dad is too busy to throw it for her she will spend time chasing rabbits and crows from the yard.
• Unlike some dogs, Kayla gets along with cats and is a big sister to one named Peasley Ann. They will actually play together and Kayla likes to give her little sister slobbery Lab kisses!
• Being the crazy dog that Kayla is she once jumped into a UPS truck and wouldn’t get out! She insisted on going for a ride and wouldn’t leave the truck until her mom got her own car out and took her for a spin! Silly Kayla!
• Kayla is excited because for the upcoming holiday she will be spending it with all her favorite friends and teachers at Doggy Daycare and Spa! She is hoping that she will get to do her favorite daycare activity, playing in the pool!
  

August 2011

Meet Spencer Heyse!

• Spencer Jay Heyse is a 1 ½ year old Cocker Spaniel that has been attending Doggy Daycare and Spa since he was only 5 months old. His mom chose his name after always loving the name Spencer and his middle name is a shortened version of her nephew’s name Jacob.
• After Spencer’s mom other Cocker Spaniel, Sassie unexpectedly passed away she started looking for a new companion. When Spencer saw his mom for the first time he gave her a big kiss and that was all it took to win her heart, she knew he was the one.
• When he isn’t having the time of his life here at Doggy Daycare and Spa, Spencer enjoys chasing birds and squirrels in his backyard and cuddling with his mom.
• Spencer has a fondness for any kind of ball and also enjoys playing fetch with two stuffed ducks that he has.
• Although Spencer hasn’t traveled anywhere exotic yet, he does take road trips almost every weekend to visit extended family. His mom describes him as a “good traveler.”
• Another of Spencer’s favorite past-times is playing hide-and-seek with his mom which causes her to run late in the morning. He is such a good hider that one day his mom had to leave work mid-day because his Grandma and Grandpa couldn’t find him anywhere. He was hiding in the closet all along which was a relief since they spent an hour scouring the neighborhood for him! That sure sounds like Spencer to us!
• Spencer is such a character that when he doesn’t want his mom to leave he will actually attach himself to her leg just like a toddler. He will grab on with his teeth and wrap his paws around her leg and it is quite a sight to see. Silly Boy!

July 2011

Meet Gracie Schoessel!

• Gracie is a wonderful 4 year old beagle that has been attending Doggy Daycare and Spa since she was only 7 months old.
• A few months after the Schoessel’s married in 2007, they decided that they wanted to expand their family. They got Gracie from a beagle breeder in St. Johns and decided to name her Gracie Lee. Not only did they like the name Gracie but her “dad” is a big Chicago Cubs fan and one of his favorite players growing up was Mark Grace whose nickname was “Gracie”. Gracie has even been known to show her Cubs spirit at daycare by wearing her Chicago Cubs collar!
• Besides coming to daycare twice a week, Gracie LOVES to spend time outdoors. She enjoys going on walks with her dad and is always on yard patrol. She is the self proclaimed yard protector making sure no birds, squirrels or anything else gets in.
• When Gracie isn’t outside she enjoys ripping all the stuffins’ out of her toys to find the squeakers. She also enjoys chewing on Dingo Rawhide bones. She tears them apart and hides the pieces in chairs, couches, anywhere in the house where she can save them for later. Unfortunately due to some recent health issues Gracie can no longer have her favorite treats. Hopefully Mom and Dad found all of her hiding places!
• Gracie’s parents say she is a very agile little girl as she has the ability to jump over high obstacles like pet gates. She demonstrates this skill at Daycare by jumping on top of large dog crates to snooze on piles of comfy, folded blankets.
• Gracie also thinks she is a human according to her owners. She loves to jump in her Dad’s lap and put her paws around his neck and cuddle with him just like her 18 month old human sister does.
• Gracie has extra special plans for the Fourth of July this year because she will be spending the holiday with all her favorite teachers and poochie friends here at Doggy Daycare! Her 4th birthday is on July 3rd so she is planning on having a partying with her closest buds!.

June 2011

Meet Nala Davis!

• Nala is a beautiful 5 year old Shepherd Mix that has been attending daycare since October.
• Nala was picked out at the Capital Area Humane Society as a Christmas Present for her human dad in 2009. She was adopted out twice before and returned by both families for chewing. That didn’t deter them though. After a few obedience classes the Davis’ say that Nala is the most perfect dog they could ask for.
• The Davis’ old dog was named Sarabi, which is the name of Simba’s mother in the Disney movie “The Lion King.” They decided to stick with the Lion King theme and name Nala after Simba’s girlfriend in the movie.
• Nala is a very human-oriented type of dog according to her family. She loves the attention and she enjoys playing tug-o-war or football with her “Dad.”
• Seeing her leash means adventure to Nala. When she isn’t attending Doggy Daycare and Spa Nala is going to work with her mom for Operation Homefront Michigan. She is considered their ambassador and supports our Military families at every event possible. She even proudly wears a little shirt with their logo on it. Her calm and friendly demeanor makes her the perfect spokesdog!
• Nala knows lots of tricks too! She can sit, stay, spin, lay down, stand on her hind legs, and she will go through your legs on command.
• Although Nala doesn’t have any like-sized furry siblings, she is an excellent big sister to a rat named Peanut and she has a Shih-tzu Cousin named Oliver that she likes to play with.
• Nala has extra special plans for Father’s Day this year. She plans on spending it with her father who will be home on Military leave from active duty in Kuwait. Nala hasn’t seen him since September so she is looking forward to seeing him!

May 2011

Meet Dax Weatherby!

• Dax is a 3 year old Australian Shepherd that has been attending daycare at Doggy Daycare and Spa for little over a year now.
• Dax got his name after they searched far and wide for Australian sounding names. Dax is what they decided on after a family vote was held. They affectionately call him “The Dax-Man” as well.
• He became a member of the Weatherby family after they heard that a breeder was re-homing some puppies that she could not show in competitions or breed. They took one look at him and loved him anyway, no matter what anyone else thought!
• Being a herding dog, Dax likes to try to help his teachers keep the other poochies in line at daycare. When he isn’t having fun doing that he enjoys playing ball, and swimming in the lake or in the pool. His “Mom” says he just loves to play, play, PLAY! Sounds like an Aussie to us!
• Dax’s favorite toy is any kind of ball he can fetch and chew on. Soccer ball, tennis balls, you name it, Dax loves chasing them and chewing them to shreds.
• Being a super smart Australian Shepherd, Dax can do a variety of tricks. He knows the typical sit, stay, shake, lay down, but if you point either to the left or to the right, he will spin in that direction!
• Dax doesn’t have any furry siblings at home but he enjoys all of the one-on-one attention he gets from his two human sisters that adore him.
• According to Dax’s owners, he believes himself to be a lap dog because he loves everyone. He also wants to be in charge all the time whether it is on a walk or running while his parents bike, he ALWAYS has to be in front to lead the charge.

April 2011

Meet Linus Connell!

• Linus is a 7 year old black Lab/German Shorthair Pointer mix that has been attending Doggy Daycare and Spa since he was 2 years old.
• Shortly after losing her previous dog, Linus’ Mom decided it was time to add another family member. She found Linus at ICAS, and although he was not available for adoption yet, she knew she would have to be patient because just had to have him! She visited him every day for 6 days and even took her extended family to meet him. Finally, on the 7th day, she got the call… it was official! She could finally adopt Linus and take him home!
• Linus got his name after his Mom spent an entire afternoon going through a list of the 2,500 most-popular dog names. When she came upon the name “Linus”, she knew that it was a perfect fit! He is also affectionately nicknamed “Scooby”, “Fluffy” and “Fred”.
• When Linus isn’t attending Doggy Daycare and Spa, his favorite thing to do is chew on stuffed animals and pull out all their stuffing. However, Linus is very particular about his stuffed animal friends. They MUST have plastic eyes! He enjoys chewing the eyes off and amazingly NEVER swallows them. His favorite friend of all is his Hedgehog.
• Being an only child, Linus is very spoiled (according to his mother). He knows lots of tricks such as “sit”, “shake” (with BOTH paws), and he also will take a treat gently from a human’s mouth by putting his front paws on their chest to get to it.
• Linus’ Mom knows first-hand the importance of annual heartworm testing and year round preventative. After Linus was adopted, he went to see his Veterinarian where they discovered he was heartworm positive. Linus was fortunate that his Mom was willing to invest in his future and treated his heartworm, an extensive and expensive process. He may also be very lucky that he had not been tested while at the shelter because many times dogs who are heartworm positive are put down rather than treated because of the expense involved. April is Heartworm Awareness month and we would like to remind all of our friends at Doggy Daycare and Spa how important yearly heartworm testing and year round heartworm preventative are to the health of your pet.

March 2011

Meet Layla Gibbs!

• Layla is a 1 ½ year old yellow Labrador Retriever that has been attending Doggy Daycare and Spa since she was only 5 months old!
• Layla was named by her “mom” after Eric Clapton’s song, Layla. She is affectionately known by her teachers at Doggy Daycare and Spa by Gibbies!
• Layla’s parents had always wanted a yellow lab but for one reason or another never got one. They decided a little over a year ago that since both of their boys were grown and out of the house that this was the perfect opportunity to get one.
• When Layla isn’t romping around with her best buds at Doggy Daycare, she likes to catch up on her sleep. Layla says it is hard work being a social butterfly at school and she needs to recuperate for her next visit!
• Layla has two very favorite toys, her raccoon toy and her ducky toy with all the squeakers. She makes sure to bring them every time she stays the night here at Doggy Daycare.
• Layla has two feline siblings, Oz and Shadow.
• Layla is like most Labs when it comes to her training, she knows “sit”, “stay” and “retrieve”, a must if you are a Labrador Retriever!
• Although Layla has yet to travel anywhere exotic, she enjoys taking trips to the campus of Michigan State University. She enjoys all the attention she gets from students on their way to and from classes, especially the female students.
• Layla’s parents say that she’s an oddball dog in the fact that she doesn’t bark at all when she is at home, even if she has to potty. If she needs to get her parents attention to be let out she shakes her collar.
• Being that Layla is the March Dog of the Month we asked her if she had any fun plans for St. Patty’s Day. She told us that she is going to be doing one of her favorite things….. having a sleepover at Doggy Daycare and Spa while her parents are having fun in Las Vegas!

Febuary 2011

Meet Hazelnut Bruun

• Hazelnut Lambchop Bruun is a 2 year old Lab mix who has been attending Daycare since she was just 6 months old!
• Hazelnut, along with her 6 siblings and mother were brought to the Bellwether Harbor Animal Shelter in Fremont, MI when she was just days old. The shelter staff named all the pups after coffee beans. Her human mom added “Lambchop” because she reminded her of a little lamb when she met her.
• When Hazelnut isn’t romping around at Doggy Daycare she gets to have fun at the family’s cottage in Muskegon where she gets to run and play with her friends at a private 49 acre dog park! She also enjoys swimming in Lake Michigan and hiking on the trails of Duck Lake State Park.
• Hazelnut’s favorite toy is a blue squeaky ball. She loves to run with it and loves it when anyone will chase her while she has it.
• Hazelnut’s best trick is “sit & shake”, and as any Lab, she loves to play fetch.
• Hazlenut’s mom describes her as a “dog’s dog” because she seems to prefer the company of other dogs over humans. That’s why Hazelnut looks forward to every Tuesday and Thursday, her Doggy Daycare and Spa days! She loves to come to “school.”
• For Valentine’s Day Hazelnut gets to play with her buddies Juno, Mick, Benny and Goldie at Dog Star Dog Ranch up north. On Monday, she will get a special bone from her family.

January 2011

Meet Emily Walters

• Emily is a 9 year old, purebred Labrador Retriever.
• Her registered name is “Kelly’s Woodland Emily”. “Kelly” for her “owner”, “Woodland” refers to her breeder, and “Emily” was the only name that her human parents could agree on.
• Emily was born on August 5, 2001. Around the same time, the Walters family began thinking that their 7 month old lab puppy, Abby, needed a furry sibling to play with. Her “parents” traveled all the way to Quincy, Michigan, where Abby had been born, to pick out their new puppy. Because Abby was such a ‘spirited’ dog, she traveled with her parents to pick out the puppy who most compatible with her personality. There was only one puppy who wasn’t intimidated by Abby’s intense, and albeit rather hyper personality. Frisky, lovable Emily and her sister Abby got along right from the start which made Emily a natural addition to the pack. Emily became an official member of the Walters family on October 7, 2001.
• When Emily isn’t hanging out at Doggy Daycare and Spa, she enjoys spending her time napping, playing with her sister Abby, and sniffing EVERYTHING in her backyard.
• Emily’s favorite toy is a Nylabone brand Galileo bone that she likes to carry around the house to chew on. She also enjoys dropping it on the hard wood floors and scaring the bejeezus out of her parents.
• While Emily hasn’t traveled anywhere exotic, she does enjoy going tent camping with her family in the fabulous resort town of Mason, Michigan. She also enjoys visiting Hawk Island Dog Park on occasion.
• Emily’s parents have always joked since she was brought home that Emily believes that she is a cat. When Emily was a puppy, she would climb over puppy gates by using her claws for traction. Emily also likes to cuddle, and when she was smaller, would climb up on the back of the couch and drape herself over her parents’ shoulders. And sometimes, Emily even “purrs” when you pet her!
• Emily is easily petrified of loud noises such as the vacuum cleaner, smoke alarm (both when it goes off and the intermittent beeping sound of a low battery), etc. Such noises have caused her to hide under tables, jump on top of small children for refuge, and climb up on top of her parents while they are in bed in the middle of the night.

December 2010

Meet Captain Morgan Caruso

• Captain Morgan is a 6 year old lab mix that got his name from his human brother and sister. Captain’s Mom didn’t realize at the time that he was being named after the famous liquor so the name stuck. Captain became a member of the Caruso family after much begging from the Children. Mom had been promising them a dog once the yard was fenced in but finally gave in and took them to the Capital Area Humane Society where they found Captain living with his two sisters.
• When he isn’t playing at Doggy Daycare, Captain spends his weekdays hanging out with his Grandparents. They take him to Mijo’s Diner every morning and he hangs out in the car and scopes out the humans. Captain is always rewarded for his patience with TWO sausage links.
• In his free time Captain enjoys staring across the street at his canine best friends Gomez and Kayla (also Doggy Daycare attendees!). Captain loves it when their dad takes all three of them to the park to play
• Captain Morgan loves to shake paws. He has to make sure that every human gets a good paw shake whenever they see him. He also loves to chase his ball, but his mom gets mad because he never returns it!
• Captain doesn’t have any furry siblings but he does enjoy it when his human sibling’s dog Hash comes over to play. He doesn’t like it when Hash spends the night however, because she snores way too loud! On occasion his good buddy Optimus Prime will come for a visit too. They LOVE to wrestle with one another.
• Captain is unusual in the sense that unlike most dogs, he doesn’t enjoy sticking his head out of the window on road trips. He takes great pride in his appearance and doesn’t like his hair and ears getting all messed up
• Captain’s favorite treat is a bagel with cream cheese. Once his Grandpa tried to give him a bagel with peanut butter but he didn’t care for it. He used his charm and good looks to talk his Grandpa out of his bagel with the cream cheese instead.
• Captain Morgan plans on spending Christmas with his humans getting fed turkey and ham, two of his most favorite foods! He also asked Santa for a new stuffed toy for Christmas because his monkey friend is getting lonely!

November 2010

Meet Ranny Jaworsky

• Ranny’s real first name is Ransom, as given to him by his breeder. His owners had trouble changing his name so they just shortened it instead. He has lots of nicknames like “Ranny-Fo-Fannie” and his human brother (a big Star Wars fan) calls him “Ranakin Skywalker.”
• Ranny was adopted when he was 2 years old from a Corgi breeder that decided he was just too mellow to continue breeding. The breeder wanted Ranny to go to a home with children and the Jaworsky family agreed that he was the perfect dog for them.
• When not at Daycare, Ranny loves to go to his human siblings soccer games where all the kids fawn over him. His parents are pretty sure he enjoys time on the couch when they are not home because all of the pillows mysteriously end up on the floor!.
• Ranny has an unusual fondness for cat toys, especially if it has feathers! He does have a basket of ordinary ol-dog toys that he enjoys dumping out and leaving for his mother to clean up.
• One of Ranny’s favorite games is called “Ranny Tag.” He chases his humans in the yard and they take turns calling him. He earns his treat by sitting or laying down for them.
• Ranny has a 13 year old, spunky feline sister named Sophie. From the beginning Ranny won her over with his charm and good looks They do act like siblings do by trying to steal the others attention away from “Mom” when she is petting them.
• This summer, Ranny had the privilege of going with his family to their Cabin in Cheboygan. While there, he enjoyed chasing after his siblings when they went into the lake. However, once he would start to float, he decided that swimming wasn’t for him and he opted for barking on the beach instead!
• Ranny is a creature of habit, as are all dogs, as he sings (AKA: howls) to the first person who is awake every morning no matter who it might be. His parents think it is “super cute!”
• Ranny plans on spending his Thanksgiving watching the parades on t.v. with his gal-pal Sophie and of course being in the middle of things when the family comes over to celebrate.

October 2010

Meet Quentin Miller

• Quentin is an 8 year old pointer mix who is named after a female character that runs away in Faulkner’s The Sound of Fury.
• When she was a puppy, Quentin picked her family by jumping into the lap of her human brother as he got into his truck. After no one claimed her, he brought her home at Thanksgiving and his parents fell in love with her and ended up making her their own!
• When not at Daycare, Quentin loves to play with her red bone which can be filled with yummy treats! She also enjoys going on walks in the neighborhood with Mom and Dad and dreaming about playing with her friends at Daycare.
• Quentin knows “sit”, “come”, and “get petted” which she LOVES!
• Quentin doesn’t have any canine brothers or sisters , but she does have a feline brother. Sometimes they pretend that they don’t like each other, but when it comes down to it, they really do! (Just like human siblings!)
• Quentin’s favorite past time (besides going to Doggy Daycare and Spa) is staging surprise attacks on her 14 year old feline brother “Odie” as he comes in from romping around in the yard, startling her feline sibling every time!
• Quentin is lovingly described by her parents as a heavenly, unexpected gift that gives them great joy… and her teachers at Doggy Daycare and Spa agree!
• Although Quentin is not planning on dressing up in a costume this Halloween, she is still going to have fun giggling at her mom who is dressing up as a Quentin look-alike!!

September 2010

Meet Cedar Arens

• Cedar is a 3 year old Miniature Goldendoodle, an avid Spartan fan, and named after the Red Cedar River (since he’s so red in color!)
• Cedar came to live with his “Mom” all the way from Virginia. He flew on an airplane from Baltimore, Maryland to Detroit, Michigan.
• Cedar can sit, shake, roll over, fetch, and come when called. (Although it often depends on whether he has found something more important such as food, or fun smells rather than listening to his Mama!)
• Cedar has a younger cousin named Timmy who is a mini black poodle and also attends Daycare. Timmy LOVES Cedar and want to play with him ALL the time!
• The very first time Cedar came home from Doggy Daycare he was only 5 months old and VERY, VERY tired. He ate his dinner and promptly fell asleep. Throughout the evening he lightly “woofed” in his sleep which was very cute. He has only done that a couple of times since. His Mom knew he had a GREAT day!
• Cedar will be spending his Labor Day Holiday Weekend at Lake Charlevoix! He has tons of fun taking long walks along Lake Michigan, playing in the waves, and riding on the boat.

August 2010

Meet Meesha Mellema

• Meesha is a 2 year old Husky. Meesha chose her name by responding to “Meesha” after several other names were tried.
• Meesha became a part of the Mellema family last summer after being adopted from the Harbor Human Society in Muskegon, MI.
• Meesha’s best friends at daycare are Layla Gibbs, Ludo Beede, Fiona Parviainen, Cassie Ditschman and Molly Bell.
• When she isn’t at Doggy Daycare, Meesha likes to go for long walks in the woods and enjoys carrying the biggest stick she can find during her walk.
• Meesha is sometimes very stubborn but will obey basic commands like “sit” and “come” and the trickiest of all, “shake.”
• Meesha is an “only-canine-child,” but she has several doggy friends that are like brothers to her.
• Meesha has yet to travel anywhere exotic but has been all over the state like a true Michiganian!
• One of Meesha’s favorite times of the day is when her “Mom” comes home and plays hide and seek with her. Her Mom will hide and when Meesha finds her, she runs in circles then takes off to do it all over again.
• Meesha has lots of things to do before the summer is over, like staying cool in the AC, going to visit friends and her nieces, playing outside when the weather permits, and her favorite….. going to Doggy Daycare!

July 2010

Meet Scooby Doo Mamaligas

• Scooby is a Golden Retriever and was born on December 4, 2007 in Leslie, Michigan.
• Scooby started attending Daycare when he was just 7 months old!
• Scooby’s best friends at Daycare are Stone, Molly, Oliver, and his favorite part of the day is being loved on by Jackie (one of his “teachers”).
• On his days off from Doggy Daycare and Spa, Scooby enjoys running in his front yard and walking with his Mom, Dad, and human Brother Nicholas.
• Scooby’s favorite toy is a stuffed Cheetah with which he LOVES to play tug-o-war.
• Scooby’s best tricks include the basics: “sit” “come” and “lay down.”
• At home, Scooby has 4 furry feline siblings: Smokey, Mickey, Gizmo, and Sassy.
• Scooby also enjoys sneaking into his human brother’s bedroom and stealing one of Nicholas’ favorite stuffed animals. He will then either bring it to his “parent’s” room or the hallway and when caught with his “prize”, will hang his head down in shame and hide the stuffed toy under his chin.
• Scooby will celebrate the 4th of July by watching fireworks in his front yard. However, they usually scare him so he hides on the front porch.

June 2010

Meet Hidey Anne Frelund

• Hidey made her place in history as Doggy Daycare and Spa’s first Dog to enroll in our Daycare Program! Her first day of Daycare was on October 19, 2000!
• Hidey was born on April 26, 1999… she turned 11 this year!
• Being a golden retriever, Hidey is the epitome of sweetness. As soon as her “Mom and Dad” saw her and her siblings at a friend’s house, they knew they HAD TO HAVE HER!!!!
• Hidey is one of our best dressed students! Her collars always change with the seasons and holidays. Her Daycare teachers love to see which collar Hidey will wear next… and we are sure some of her friends have “collar envy!”
• Hidey’s best friends at Daycare are Winston, Cosmo, Penny, Mya, Champ, and Mickey.
• Unfortunately, Hidey has struggled with allergies for most of her life. She has even seen a Veterinary Specialist to help diagnose and relieve her itching and skin issues. Hidey now enjoys a home cooked diet of raw vegetable, pureed sweet potatoes, and Buffalo Meat. She also enjoys a weekly Spa Appointment with Racheal to treat her skin!
• Hidey has always been bored with the normal dog “tricks.” She learned to shake and went to obedience class as a puppy, however that was all she ever needed. She has always been perfect just the way she is!
• Along with coming to Daycare, Hidey loves to ride in the car with her nose and head out the window! The wind on her face always makes her think of Leo and Kate!
• Although Hidey has never traveled anywhere exotic, she does take a few trips a year to North Carolina. She also visits her human sister in Chicago.
• For Father’s Day, Hidey is going to treat her Dad to a brand new shirt. Her Mom told her that’s what he would like :) !

May 2010

Meet Bear Collette

• Bear is a five and a half year old golden retriever.
• He was born on October 26, 2004.
• His favorite toy is a bone filled with peanut butter.
• Bear was adopted at Christmas-time because his “Older Brother” always wanted a golden retriever puppy. Jon, Bear’s “Older Brother,” got tricked into going to pick out a puppy, but he got the cutest and most affectionate one!
• Bear knows multiple tricks, and he likes to do them in a series. Bear starts with sit, then shake, Hi-Five, down, tummy rub, roll over and then sit again. He will keep his eye on the treat the entire time and continues the series until he gets his treat. He will do anything for Food! His favorite trick though is his tummy rub.
• Bear’s favorite things to do at daycare are play in the pools with his friends, roll in the snow, and get lots of attention from his teachers!
• Bear loves to play with Casey Jones, Simon Trabue, Lucy Robinson, Nelson Jones, Thorpe Bohnet, Sofie Huddle, Mya Rudman, Honey Pot Mason, and Bruno Ebersole.
• Bear’s favorite thing to do, other then come to daycare, is go for walks. He enjoys sniffing everything in the neighborhood, and when he gets home he gets to “yard race”… which is ripping around the yard in figure eights.
• Bear also enjoys being chased around the dining room table when he has a chew toy in his mouth.
• Bear took obedience and remedial training when he was 4 months old.
• Bear’s favorite places to travel to are his Grandma’s house in East Lansing, the wetlands behind his house, and for pizza runs!
• Bear has not been Mother’s Day shopping yet, but he is thinking about getting her a string of kibble and a couple of slobbery kisses.
  

April 2010

Meet Cricket Williams
{aka Rickety-Cricket or Big Girl}

• Cricket is a female Blue Merle Great Dane
• She was born on April 20, 2009 and will be celebrating her first birthday this month!
• Cricket’s parents had another blue merle Great Dane before her and they fell in love with the breed. When they lost their first Dane to a stroke, they knew they wanted another one. Blue merle Danes are not easy to find and they talked to breeders in Ohio, Flint, and one in Texas! When they saw Cricket, they knew she was the one.
• Cricket’s favorite toy is anything that squeaks. She likes to tear out all the stuffed animal fluff to free the squeaker.
• Cricket’s coolest trick is catching a ball in flight; but she also loves to talk, especially when she gets up from her naps at Daycare. She received the nickname “Chewbacca” because of the sounds she makes!
• Cricket’s favorite thing about Daycare is playing with her friends outside, inside, on the play set, in crates, on the patio… basically Cricket is always playing with one of her friends!!!!!
• Cricket is not picky and will play with anyone, but her favorites are Ripley McCready, Jack Everson, Fiona Parviainen, Hazelnut Brunn, Bailey Ricks, Gunnar Stewart, Layla Gibbs, and Rex George.
• When Cricket is not at Daycare, she likes to go for walks and chase chipmunks.
• Cricket has a dog brother at home named Kobi who is an eight year old Akita.
• During the summer Cricket, gets to spend time at the beach on Lake Michigan.
• For spring break, Cricket will be babysitting the grandkids and then gets to go out of town to see her 7 dog cousins and 14 human relatives!

March 2010

Meet Katarina Bella
{aka Katie Bell or Katie}

• Katie is a 3 year old female Dalmatian
• She was born on April 13, 2006
• Katie’s parents had a Dalmatian previously and fell in love with the breed. They had heard from their vet about a litter of Dalmatian puppies and when they saw the picture of Katie sitting on top of her brothers and sisters they knew she was the one. They fell in love with her heart shaped nose and got to bring her home when she was 7 weeks old.
• Katie’s favorite toy is her dog brother named Duffy
• Katie is not picky about what she eats. She will eat anything and as much of it as she can get!!!
• Katie loves to greet her parents with a big toothy smile!
• When Katie is not at daycare she likes to run and bark at home
• Katie has 3 favorite things to do at daycare: Run and play outside with her friends, eat snow and take naps on the table with her buddies
• Katie’s favorite friends to play with at daycare are Spencer Batcher, Abby Wildrose, Kylie Ross, Nova Behr, Dylan Dennis, Sherman Bessette and Petoskey Yunge
• Katie has two siblings at home a two year old Shih Tzu named Duffy and Petruchio a very large orange and white cat
• Katie enjoys taking weekend trips to Pentwater, Michigan because on the way she gets to stop at McDonald’s and get treats
• Katie’s plan for St. Patrick’s Day is to look for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow or a leprechaun to bark at
• Katie enjoys watching MSU football because of Zeke the Wonder Dog (her hero), therefore she will be cheering on MSU to win the NCAA tournament
  

February 2010

Meet Stone Kribbet {aka Stoney Baloney}

• Stone is a 3 year old male golden retriever
• He just celebrated his 3rd birthday on January 31st
• His favorite toy is a stuffed polar bear
• Stone’s best trick is giving a high five!
• Other then coming to daycare Stone likes to take walks on MSU campus where he stalks squirrels
• Stone really enjoys coming to daycare because he is an only pet
• Stone’s best friends at daycare are Molly Bell, Fiona Parviainen, Helo Demlow, Nessie Scripps, Camry Roasa, Scooby Mamaligas, Layla Gibbs
• Stone’s favorite thing about coming to daycare is playing with all his friends and in the summer he loves playing in the pool
• The most exotic locale Stone has been to is Woodstock, NY
• For Valentines Day Stone is planning on hanging out with his Momma even though he has many girlfriends at daycare that would love to spend the day with him!
  

January 2010

Meet Penny Dickenson

• Penny is a orange and white Brittany
• She is 8 years old and was born on August 26, 2001
• Penny’s parents received her as a gift for Christmas from their children when she was 4 months old
• Penny has one favorite stuffed animal that is shaped like a dog
• Penny is fed Science diet but she likes to supplement her diet with what ever she is able to reach off the counters
• Penny’s best trick is to give kisses for her food and she even knows not to give slobbery ones!
• Other then coming to daycare Penny likes to go “hunting” at the dog park where she stalks rabbits and squirrels
• Penny’s favorite thing at daycare is getting to be outside in the summer, but in the winter she likes playing with her friends and sitting on her teachers laps
• Penny’s favorite friends to play with at daycare are Abby Wildrose and Cruizer Menacher
• She also enjoys playing with Bailey Seidl, Quentin Miller, Cedar Arens, Hidey Frelund, Champ Bott, Emily Walters
• When Penny was 1 years old she got to travel to Maine with her parents
• Penny’s New Year’s Resolution for 2010 is to lose a few pounds!
  

December 2009

Meet Sammie McGarrell
{aka “SWD” Sammie the Wonder Dog}

• Sammie is a Samoyed-Husky mix
• She was adopted from Last Chance Rescue of Brighton on January 10, 2009 and her parents were told that she is about 3 years old
• Sammie was highly recommended to her new parents when the dog they had planned on getting was adopted, but her parents are so very glad to have gotten her instead
• Sammie’s favorite toy is her squeaky chipmunk
• The best trick that Sammie does is hide the treat she is given when her parents leave and then retrieves the treat and eats it once her parents are back home
• When Sammie is at home she loves taking walks in the woods, romping in the snow, and chasing squirrels.
• Sammie is lucky because she does not have to share her home with any other pets, but she does like when her two close cousins come to visit.
• Sammie had a great time this past summer when she got to traveled to dog-friendly Wineries in Finger Lakes, NY.
• Sammie’s favorite thing to do at daycare is help interview new dogs and play with her friends outside in the snow.
• Her best friends at daycare are Meesha Mellema, Zeke Valavanis, Katie Forester, Molly Barton, Yuki Woelfle, Scooby Mamaligas, Smeagle Drake and Champ Anderson.
• Sammie will be spending Christmas through New Years in the great white north of Michigan, and she hopes there will be a lot of snow to play in!

November 2009

Meet Simon Trabue

• Simon is a Labrador retriever and he was born on May 3, 2007
• Simon was born at Kokomo labs kennel in Howell, Michigan and moved to Lansing when he was seven and half weeks old to live with his mom Patti
• At home Simon has all kinds of toys from regular old balls to Audubon birds that make realistic bird calls, but his favorite toy is any stick he can find on his morning walks
• Simon gets fed a high quality food called wellness but he prefers to eat the gifts his cat friends bring him or horse manure
• His cutest trick is called “belly up”. His reward is having his belly scratched
• Simon’s favorite thing to do other then come to daycare is going for his morning walks in one of several parks. Along his walks he sometimes gets to see Wally, Orion, Roscoe, Tess, Dixie or Duffy.
• Simon’s favorite thing about daycare is playing with his best friend Reese Callender and getting attention and lots of petting from his teachers
• Simon also enjoys playing with Kala Kareti, Fiona Parviainen, Nelson Jones, Bear Collette, Scout Chiaravelli, Ripley McCready, Gomez Koessel
• Simon might be the only dog in his home but he shares it with two cats and two horses. You could say Simon shares the cat’s home, depending on your point of view
• Simon and his mom will be sharing a quiet Thanksgiving this year but Simon has dibs on the turkey breast followed by a piece of home grown, fresh baked pumpkin pie

Simon and his Mom would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving

October 2009

Meet Winston Teddy Beachnau

• He was born on August 23, 2007
• Winston is an apricot standard poodle
• The French name for poodle is Caniche, meaning duck dog, describing their original function of retrieving ducks
• Winston is very special to his owner because he was given to her as a gift
• His favorite toy to play with at home is his squeaky tennis ball
• The best trick that Winston can do is catch tennis balls in mid-air
• Winston’s favorite thing to do other then come to daycare is going to the dog park. He goes every Saturday and loves to leave dirty.
• Winston has to share his home with two grumpy cats, Bill and Jade
• His favorite thing to do at daycare is run outside with his friends and sniff everything
• His best friends at daycare are Kylie Ross, Lily Wright, Cruizer Menacher, Smeagle Drake, Bailey Jeffrey, Kavi Darling, Sammie McGarrell, Molly Barton

September 2009

Meet Harry "Winston" Pearse

• He was born on February 2,2000 in Texas
• He is a Rhodesian Ridgeback also known as an African Lion Hound
• His favorite toy is a blanket that he likes to throw in the air and chew on
• The best trick he does is give kisses on command
• His favorite thing to do at home is get his butt scratched as well as eat and sleep
• His favorite thing to do at daycare is sun bathe and play with his friends
• His best friend at daycare is Buddha
• Winston was the first dog to attend daycare and his long time friends are: Heidi, Cosmo P., Penny, Enya, Max M., Charlie H., Hank & Maya, Abby & Emily
• Since Winston has lived in Dimondale there have been no lion attacks. A fact sadly, Winston has not been credited for. However, he is honored to be recognized as Dog of the Month although he is starting to get an Ego.