Dog Walkin’ Wellington
When One is Not Enough . . .
By Barbara Phillippi
The name of this column is “Dog Walkin’ Wellington,” and we pass folks every day, enthusiastically exercising their pets on our streets and by-ways. I decided to talk to a few walkers who travel with more than one canine in tow and ask them, “Why isn’t just one dog enough?” Finding folks with multiple leashes in hand was pretty easy.
Nancy and her three
If you travel Wellington Trace between Big Blue Trace and Forest Hill Blvd, you’ve probably seen Nancy Locke and her three Basset Hounds, Howie, Tiki, and Junior. “We walk about half a mile in the morning, another half after work,” says Nancy.
Why Basset Hounds? “When I moved to Florida, I lived on the beach. We were allowed a 25 lb. dog, but my first Basset grew to be about 50 lbs – still, everyone loved her, and I knew that this was the breed for me.” After this dog was gone, Nancy decided she’d like to show Bassets.
Her three dogs are litter mates, meaning that they were born at the same time, from the same mom, and by the same sire. “My sister has four of them, I have these three, and a friend has the other one. One of them made it to the Westminster dog show. And we still have Whoopie.” Nancy’s dogs all have obedience and rally titles. She shows Howie, and drives up to 5 hours to events; no further, she can’t stay all night, as she has to turn around and drive home. There are two other Bassets waiting to be fed and tended to.
Nancy recommends and supports Florida’s Basset Rescue organization: http://www.suncoastbassetrescue.org Next time you see Nancy and the Bassets, give them a toot of the horn.
Nancy says there are few Bassets in Wellington. One friend has four, but those are the only ones she’s sure of. Has she thought about adding to her pack? “Oh, NO! Three is enough,” she exclaims. Just today, her sister moved into Nancy’s villa for a few weeks, bringing two teenagers and her own four Bassets, so there are currently seven Bassets in residence.
“It’s a madhouse,” she laughs. She shows me a picture of her last year’s Christmas card. It’s Tiki, in a wig, with antlers. I ask her if I can use it for the column. “Sure, she says,” so, here’s a picture of the Christmas Basset, guaranteed to make dog lovers smile.
Mona and her three
Mona Snell has three rescues, and wishes she had room for a dozen. Several years ago, Weederman, a 16-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, who had been Mona’s constant companion for years, was in failing health. Friends told her that she should prepare for the time when he would be gone, and Mona found “Poppy,” now eight years old, a Pitt mix, and a Hurricane Katrina dog. She came from Danny and Ron’s Rescue, (http://www.dannyandronsrescue.com)
Poppy was unsocialized, shy, and introverted, Mona thinks was pulled from under a porch or vehicle during the disaster. Poppy adjusted, and settled in as Weederman’s companion; they got along just fine.
“Dora” is a six-year-old Jack Russell Terrier – named for Mt. Dora, the North Florida Town that hosts huge, annual, antique and collectibles sales. While checking out the bargains there, a friend asked her, “Did you see the Jack Russell puppies back there?” Mona took a look; the man selling them said he’d take $125 for the female that she liked – he needed the money for his daughter’s college 
fund. “I paid $124 in bills, and 4 quarters for her. He said, “Keep the change.” Mona’s pack grew to three, as Dora came home to live with Poppy and Weederman.
Weederman has since passed on, and Mona would like to think that he’s at the “Rainbow Bridge.” Animal lovers know this as a reference to a celestial place, where pets that have died wait for their master’s to join them, and they cross the bridge to a better world together. “I was down to two dogs for almost four years, she says. Then, somehow, it was just seemed time to start searching for a third companion.
Why isn’t one dog enough? Mona and I share about the same thoughts – Dogs are many times more agreeable, faithful, and better companions than most people.
Enter “Sugar,” a purebred American or Japanese Spitz, now a year old, that she also found at Danny and Ron’s. Sugar is a “gardening dog,” who likes to dig in the yard and garden, and bring plants and dirt inside.
She’s adapted well to her “sisters,” but Dora, the dominant canine, isn’t too pleased that Sugar isn’t there just for a visit.
The Dunning family and their trio of rescues
Brian Dunning moves along Primrose Lane at a really good clip, and it’s clear that his three small dogs aren’t content leisurely tagging behind. Out front, and tugging, are Jake, a Bichon – fluffy, white, and barky; Hercules, an apricot mini poodle, more reserved, but friendly; and Daisy, a free spirited Cairn Terrier. Both “boys” are ten years old, and Daisy, the boss of the bunch, is four.
“We found all three on ‘PETFINDER,’ (www.petfinder.com) explains daughter Madeline Dunning.” “And they all came from local shelters.” Dad Brian says, “Jake was the first, then we got Hercules, to be his companion.” But that didn’t work out, as Hercules was so damaged by his previous circumstances that he didn’t enjoy canine interaction. Still, time has helped him adjust to being a great all around family dog, and he fits right into the 
daily routine.
Daisy, pictured with Madeline, is the companion for Jake that the Dunnings always wanted. As the two play in the yard, Daisy is always on top, the chaser, the instigator. And Jake loves it.
Mom Mary and daughter Celestial also strongly advocate for rescue adoption. “Purchasing an animal has never been an option,” says dad Brian. I agree. Here are three purebreds that were throwaways. It’s time to stop the pet shop/puppy mill revolving door.
Last, but not least, I have my own “overabundance” of Jack Russell Terriers, Gracie, eight, Woody, fifteen, and Buck, seven. And yes, I’m quite happy with three!
Over a lifetime, Barbara Phillippi has had mostly “normal” dogs – a few German Shepherds and a bunch of wonderful “mutts,” each with its own wonderful, quirky, qualities. For many years, she taught 4-H dog obedience courses, under the authorization of Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension Services. That terrific program teaches the basics of dog behavior, of every breed, to young dog owners. Today she lives in Wellington with three Jack Russell Terriers – Woody, Gracie, and Buck. “These guys showed me a learning curve that I never knew existed!”