Dog Walkin’ Wellington
Meet Lovey, Wellington’s Rock Star Dog
By Barbara Phillippi
“Lovey,” Wellington’s Rock Star Dog
… more than just a pretty picture.
It’s the holiday season, stores are busy, and “layaway” is the buzz word for holiday shoppers this year. But this is a column about Wellington dogs, so a picture of a cute canine, in a seasonal Santa hat, is mandatory!
This is “Lovey,” an eleven-year-old Pomeranian, who rules the roost in the home of Arnie and Gloria Leiboff. Gloria found him eleven years ago in Ft Lauderdale, a sickly little puffball, weighing just 1 lb, 4 oz. It cost a bundle to save him, but “it was so worth it,” Gloria says, and the dog has been at the center of their lives since.
The precocious pup is famous in the western communities; he’s appeared on the cover and in a feature story of Wellington the Magazine, the subject of various articles in the Palm Beach Post, featured in “I Love My Pet” in Around Wellington Magazine and seen other local newspapers. Lovey’s photos have advertised dog products in catalogs and been tacked on the wall as calendar pages. He has his own toy horse, “Sugar,” (see picture) on which he perches, in many of his hundreds of published photos.
Lovey is recognized when Arnie exercises him at the dog park, and admirers stop Gloria whenever they’re out and about. He’s won Boca’s “top dog model” contest, triumphed over 35 competitors at the first annual FL Home Show pet contest, won the Seminole Casino Cocoanut Creek pet contest.. West Fest… the list of awards is endless.
The little dog has trophies bigger than he is, ribbons, framed proclamations. Prize money for winning costume contests totals well over $2000, plus a whole bunch of merchandise. If there’s a pet contest anywhere in the vicinity, Lovey and Gloria will be there, and, most likely, they will be coming home with a prize.
But Lovey is our holiday STAR because he’s more than just a pretty, fluffy face. Yes, the happy little dog collects trophies, ribbons, and admirers, but he also gives back. He has an obedience title from the AKC, and is a certified pet therapy dog. Lovey was honored as “Volunteer of a quarter year” at the Morse Geriatric Center, the first time a non-human was recognized. He’s participated in over 400 visits to nursing homes, and veterans long term care facilities.
That prize money is spent for more than just new costumes. Lovey echos the compassion of his owners. He lives peacefully with Gloria’s rescued cats, four in the house, 12 outside, all of them unwanted, each now neutered or spayed, chipped, and blessed by her caring and generosity. She spends over $3000 a year, on food and medical care, for creatures who had no options before they found her.
Holidays should be joyous times, and most of us are able to provide for our companion animals. But difficult circumstances, now more than ever, mean that some families feel that they are unable to keep their pets, that they just can’t afford to provide food and other needs. It must be heartbreaking to consider surrender of loved animals.
For these families, who are struggling to keep their pets with them, I join Gloria, Arnie, and “Lovey,” and suggest that, during this season of compassion and giving, you consider donating some pet food to this local charity: Kibblez of Love.
Angelina Wilson, founder of Kibblez of Love, keeps a list of local pet owners who need assistance in caring responsibly for their animals. The 501(c)3 charity screens low-income owners, visits their pets, and arranges to provide food donated to the cause. Dry food is most requested for dogs, but wet food (packets, cans, etc.) seems to always be in short supply for cats. Cash is always welcome, as there is a low-cost vet that Angelina works with (also a 501(3)c charity), which neuters/spays pets for client families.
Pet food drop off location, in the Western Palm Beach communities, is “,” in the old Kmart plaza, corner of 441 and Southern Blvd., near the Post Office. Owner Pablo Sanchez has a bin there for your donations, and also offers a generous discount on the pet foods he carries, if you purchase for donation. There are also several Publix stores in the Boca Raton area, which act as food drop-off sites. Please contact Kibblez of Love for a list.
Visit http://www.kibblezoflove.org/ for more information. (561) 271-5890.
I like to think of this donated food as gift from your dog or cat to a less fortunate pet. THANX! And Happy Holidays to all of you, (including the furry, hairy, children.)
“In a perfect world, every dog would have a home, and every home would have a dog.”
Happy Holidays to you and your pets too!
Editor’s Note: The fabulous Barbara Phillippi probably doesn’t want me to say this, but I just want our readers to know that when she started researching the wonderful organization “Kibblez of Love,” she found that there were no drop off locations in our Wellington/RPB area. She took action and connected Kibblez of Love with My Whole Pet Market on 441, so we now have a drop off pet food location. Way to go! Don’t forget to help out pets during this holiday season, while making your donations!!