Spas & Kennels | Bakeries & Boutiques | Dog Tricks | Photographing Your Pet | Match Game | Vet Specialists
Last year, Americans spent $34.4 billion on their family animals, more than double what we spent 10 years ago. And the reasons run far deeper than fads and frills. Companion animals play a more important role in our lives than ever before—partly because we know more about what they need, and partly because we find ourselves in sore need of their calming presence and unconditional affection.
Is it really affection, or just habitual loyalty inspired by the daily refilling of the kibble bowl? It hardly matters. We keep them safe, they keep us calm. They're not caught up in the pressure, rush and expectation of our world. They live, unselfconsciously, in the moment, taking pure joy in a roll in the grass, a nap in the sun, the intoxicating joy of catnip or a peanut-buttered Kong. Tangled in more complicated desires, we take vicarious pleasure in our animals' joys. We delight in their open exuberance, the ease and trust with which they nestle against us. They set our priorities straight, rescue us from a fragmented, hyperstimulated, overbusy world. And we cherish the steadiness of their companionship.
In a recent survey by BizRate Research, more than half of women and 41 percent of men pronounced their pets more affectionate than their partners. Surveys by the American Animal Hospital Association have found that 84 percent of respondents consider themselves emotionally dependent on their pets; nearly a third spend more time with their pets than with family or friends; 63 percent tell their pets "I love you" daily; and 11 percent of cat owners have ended a relationship because of their cats. Marooned on a desert island and allowed to choose one companion, half the people surveyed would pick a cat or dog rather than a person. Eight of 10 pet owners call themselves "mom" or "dad" to their pets, a sharp increase from 55 percent in 1995.
The family circle is widening.
Taking the Lead
Doggie boot camp is out. So are cages at kennels and taking Smelly Cat to the cleaners. Pet guardians are seeking out holistic vets, organic pet food and new cage-free groomers with play areas. Here's a sampling of new places and practitioners in St. Louis:
Pet Talker
For behavior problems, try a practice called TTouch, which was first used on horses with behavioral issues. Annette Jonczyk (636-536-3975, www.onetouchattime.com) is a certified TTouch practitioner who evaluates animals in their home environments and teaches techniques to decrease fear and anxiety and change behavior. "They hold stress in like we do, and then they can't function properly," Jonczyk explains. Much like massage, her bodywork focuses on the nervous system to help release tension.
Needling Your Pet
At Kingsbury Animal Hospital (420 N. Skinker, 314-721-6251, kingsbury.petplace.com), Dr. Kim Lynch performs dry, aqua and electrostimulation forms of acupuncture. The vets at Kingsbury also guide people through hospice, making house calls to ease a pet's last days.
The Raw Truth
Animal Health & Healing (2615 S. Big Bend, 314- 781-1738, www.animalhealthandhealing.com) offers a blend of Eastern and Western veterinary medicine, drawing on herbs and homeopathy and emphasizing a fresh organic diet.
One-Stop Shops
Wolfgang's Pet Shop (330 N. Euclid, 314-367-8088, www.wolfgangspetstop.com) opened in stages: first a boutique in December, then a groomer (Sundays are self-serve; you can use the salon to wash your own pet). Now there's a bakery, where owner Beth Ruppel is perfecting organic cat treats. In summer, she'll make local deliveries for people who stop in with their dogs and can't carry home 40-pound bags of organic dog chow.
Four Muddy Paws (200 Geyer, 314-773- 7297, www.fourmuddypaws.com) opened in Lafayette Square last fall as a pet owner's ultimate convenience, featuring a pet wash, grooming and a pet market focusing on organic foods.
Groomin' Right Along
No need to wait in line for a groomer—Aussie Pet Mobile Groomer (636-717-1100, www.aussiepetmobile.com) comes to you. Make an appointment, and the pet barber on wheels will park outside your house. Two more order-in groomers: Paws at Your Door (314-567-7297, www.pawsatyourdoor.com) and On the Spot LLC Mobile Dog Grooming (314-565-6676). Furry Tails Grooming (9248 Manchester, 314-918-7401) opened in March and features, among more common grooming needs, hand-stripping for terriers to promote a healthy coat. There's also an open play area for waiting dogs. Rub a Dub Doggie (1805 Smizer Station, 636-225-6855) opened last fall. They don't insist on cages, either; they offer day care, and they let you stay with your puppy while she's groomed. Groomingdale's (relocated to 3425 Watson, 314-781-6711, www.groomingdalesstl.com) has expanded into a doggie fun park, with a pet spa, "play care" and a place for pet parties and puppy showers, all under one roof. Pet photography is also available, as are doggie day- care packages.
Toy Story
The latest hot sellers at Petsmart: Barbie accessories for cats—hot-pink sparkle mice and feather wands. Scratching posts, meanwhile, have evolved into multistory cat hotels that rival the Seven Wonders of the World in architectural complexity. And for the birds, tropical-colored sand perches keep claws and beaks filed, the better to rip into bright new tissue-paper piñatas. For your field dog's dreams, try the oversize stuffed migrators—pheasant, quail, goose and mallard, all with realistic quack-squeakers—at the Canine Center (9850 Manchester, 314-962-7916).
Adopt & Shop
Last fall, the Missouri Humane Society (www.hsmo.org) opened two Adopt & Shop stores, in the Westfield Shoppingtowns at Chesterfield and Mid Rivers, to give potential adoptive families even easier access to animals needing homes. The shops also feature Laurel Burch handbags and Alley Cat figurines.
Fur Coats & Yappy Hours
Even if Miss Kitty isn't a diva, you can pretend she is. Indulging your pet is a victimless crime and a vicarious pleasure. With spas, parties, monograms, jewels and artisan treats, nine lives aren't nearly enough.
The All-Important Accessories
Pets in the City (1009A Russell 314-772-7387) sells costumes (the rock-star and biker get-ups are the biggest hits). For more practical purposes, try the Breathalicious bones (a.k.a. "Beano for dogs") to combat both bad breath and gas. At Bird Cage Warehouse & Supply Co. (4025-P Old Highway 94 S., 636-939-9888), you can buy a tiny harness that will let you take your bird for a walk-and-fly when the weather gets nice. Back indoors, shower perches in the bathroom make a popular alternative seat for feathered friends.
May We See Some ID, Please?
Never listen to the jingle-jangle of dog tags again, once your pup has donned a monogrammed collar from The Initial Design (25 N. Gore, 314-968-8300). Each collar is personalized with the dog's name or initials and its humans' telephone number.
Heartbreak Hotels
At Kennelwood Village Pet Resort (five locations, www.kennelwood.com), homesick pups drown their sorrows in Frosty Paws treats during "yappy hour." Cats prefer the intoxicant of "catnip teatime." At Cedar Valley Kennels (10900 Cedar Valley Lane in Dittmer, 636-274-2275) the site is a farm and the dogs can go inside and outside, safe in their own runs, in addition to their twice-daily walks. The owners' sweet yellow Lab, Sally, will cheer up anyone who's lonesome. Petropolis Pet Center (16830 Chesterfield Airport Road, 636-537-2322, www.petropolis.com), a dog and cat hotel and spa in Chesterfield, just pampers them out of any loneliness, offering "villas" and keeping a pet masseuse on standby. If—if—you have a sturdy, sociable dog, Happy Tails Hotel & Playland (2920 Lindbergh, 314-291-3647, www.happytailsinc.net, open 24/7) is an open kennel—no crates or cages, just turfed outdoor play areas and indoor playrooms. Dogs must go through a temperament check and orientation, and attendants monitor each area to head off fights.
When It's Time to Pose
You don't want a surly Santa in your holiday pet photo. The most reliable sessions we've found are run every December by Kennelwood as a fundraiser for the Brain Injury Association of Missouri.
Throwing Out the Doggie with the Bathwater
Shakers Bath House (9833 Manchester, 314-961-7200) in Rock Hill is the efficient solution to washing a dog: No more hassle getting Fido into the bathtub. No more cleanup after the cleaning. Shakers is a self-wash facility, providing everything you need—even elevated tubs, so there's no hunching over—to clean furry friends.
Party Animal
It's his party, and he'll bark if he wants to. Your dog's next birthday could be a big bash at Three Dog Bakery (8861 Ladue, 314-726-1674, www.threedog.com), which hosts parties for pets. The shop also sells made-to-order canine cakes, party hats and decorations, as well as everyday treats.
Speaking of treats, for the best peanut-butter barkers around, try your luck at Treats Unleashed (36 Clarkson-Wilson Center, 636-536-5900). And if you're still begging, there's Dog Gone Delights (11824 Tesson Ferry, 314-849- 3647), Sweet Be's (12027 Manchester, 314-835-1400) or Canine Cookies-n-Cream Dog Bakery (1125 Cave Springs Estates Drive in St. Peters, 636-928-6900).
Starting from Scratch
You don't need to be a gourmet chef to experiment with the 60 healthy recipes in St. Louis writer Janine Adams' new You Bake 'Em Dog Biscuits Cookbook. She also has a 20-recipe You Bake 'Em Dog Biscuits kit that includes gift bags and five biscuit cutters—one in the tempting shape of a cat.
Bling for the Bark
Jason Kolons' white Chihuahua, Isabella Francesca Puccini, is the number-one model and inspiration for a new pet-jewelry line, Faux Paws Jewels (314-567-5449). Kolons and his business partner, Margo Cooper, recently started making and selling pet necklaces. They use real pearls, crystals and clasps to fancy up any dog. Isabella has eight of her own from which to choose.
Kids and Goats
Check out the Kids for Critters Camp and individual summer classes about animals of all kinds at the St. Louis Humane Society (1201 Macklind, 314-951-1579, www.hsmo.org). Kids meet other kids—baby goats, that is—as well as miniature horses and potbellied pigs. They also learn about animal communication, animal first aid and pet massage.
Staying Under One Woof
Traveling with pets is more popular than ever, and more and more hotels and bed-and-breakfast inns are accommodating four-legged guests. But how do you know whether Fido and Fifi are welcome?
Hotels
Go to www.hotels-and-discounts.com/ Pets_Friendly. Choose "St. Louis" and the expected travel date. You'll be surprised by pet accommodations at bigger hotels such as downtown's Adam's Mark, Wyndham Mayfair and Hyatt Regency.
One of the most hospitable pet stays is at Clayton on the Park (8025 Bonhomme, 314- 290-1500, www.claytononthepark.com), which offers a pet package including an aluminum doggie dish with food, fresh water graced with a floating piece of mint, a dog-bone cookie and a chew toy. Cats, alas, must stay at home.
Bed & Breakfast Inns
To find pet-friendly B&Bs in Missouri, go to www.bbim.org. Click "Search by Amenity." Select "Accepted with restrictions (ask)" to find the 29 B&Bs that will, with certain provisos, make your pet at home.
Sit, Stay ... Heal
Like all modern medicine, the healing of companion animals continues to evolve, with CT scans for cats, anxiety wraps to help dogs cope with thunderstorms and veterinarians with sophisticated specialties and high-tech equipment. Below, numbers to keep on hand.
Animal Emergency Clinics
North Metro, 12501 Natural Bridge, 314-739-1500
South Metro, 9937 Big Bend, 314-822- 7600
St Charles County, 334 Fort Zumwalt Square, 636-240-5496
Jefferson County, 7095 Metropolitan, Suite H, 636-464-2846
Specialty Clinics
Veterinary Specialty Services (1021 Howard George, 636- 227-9400) offers CT scans and has oncologists and board-certified orthopedic vets on staff. They treat pets by veterinarian referral only.
Associated Veterinary Specialists (12462 Natural Bridge, 314-739-1510) offers surgery, dentistry and internal medicine.
Companion Animal Clinic University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in Columbia (573-882-7821; emergencies, 573- 882-4589).
Small Animal Clinic University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana (general information and emergencies, 217- 333-5300).
Spay/Neuter Clinics
St. Louis Pet Clinic (2245 S. Grand, 314-644-4144 or 314-773-6400) offers early and low-cost spay/neuter services.
Other resources to find a veterinarian providing low-cost services: Either call 800-248-7729 or 800-321-7387 or visit www.friendsofanimals.org and enter a ZIP code to find spay/neuter services near you.
Additional information may be found at Operation Spot (Stop Pet Overpopulation Today, 314-995-8678, www.opspot.org) or www.metroanimal.org.
Gimme Shelter
All Paws Rescue in O'Fallon, Mo., a network of private foster homes, 636-288-2999, aprescue.petfinder.org.
Animal Protective Association, 1705 S. Hanley, 314-645- 4610. (Call ahead to make sure they are able to accept the animal.)
Animal Shelters United in O'Fallon, Mo., coordinates rescues with various shelters and helps them raise money, 314-458-5872, www.animalsheltersunited.org.
Clowder House Foundation, Inc. Short-term and lifetime care for cats, 3134 Wyoming, 314-776-7877.
FURRY (Ferrets Underfoot Running Round You) rescues and fosters hundreds of ferrets. 3314-638-5756, www.furryferrets.org.
Humane Society of Missouri, St. Louis Adoption Center, 1201 Macklind, 314-951-1562.
Metro East Humane Society, 8495 State Route 143 in Edwardsville, Ill., 618-656-4405, www.mehs.org.
Mutts-N-Stuff, Foristell, 314-306-6888, www.muttsandstuff.com.
Open Door Animal Sanctuary, 6065 Duda in House Springs, 636-671- 3643 or 636-671-5439 (emergency), www.odas.org.
Snuggle, 200 Park Charles N. in St. Peters, 636-441-1728.
Stray Rescue of St. Louis, 1463 S. 18th, 314-771-6121, www.strayrescue.org.
Fighting for Cats and Dogs
Last August, the city of St. Louis passed a law recognizing individuals as “guardians,” rather than “owners,” of their animal companions. The same week, Mayor Francis Slay announced the end of the gas chamber as a method for euthanizing animals.
What’s next? Missouri legislators are considering a $100 tax credit for canine adoption (SB 429) and a bill regulating possession of large carnivores (HB 211). Lions and tigers and bears don’t make great house pets.
Other proposed legislation would strengthen protection for service dogs and allow licensed physical therapists to provide, with a vet’s prescription, rehabilitation services for animals.
But Missouri is also considering, for the third time, a bill that would make it a felony to take unauthorized photographs of “puppy mills” and livestock farms. The argument? That unauthorized photo could lead to a bioterrorism attack on a Missouri farm and threaten our food supply.
Brighter news in Illinois: a pet-friendly license plate fund is making grants possible for 50 nonprofit spay/neuter groups, and a new law provides $2 million for spaying and neutering the dogs and cats of people on food stamps or disability benefits.
Tricks and Treats
Have you begun to despair of ever getting your pup on Letterman? There are better options. If he’s a retriever, there’s a world of field technique. If his paws are webbed, there’s swimming. If his nose is keen, there’s tracking, drug and bomb detection and even cadaver work, finding dead bodies for the police. Dogs can offer protection, pull sleds or work in health care, calming fears, helping people with disabilities move through the world, sniffing out cancer or sounding the alarm before a seizure or heart attack. Purebred dogs can have clubby social lives on the dog-show circuit; mutts can sail through obedience trials and win their AKC Canine Good Citizen certification.
More alternatives, when the stupid pet tricks begin to pall:
Freestyle: The latest craze, freestyle is essentially dancing with your dog. Classes are taught by the head trainer at Happy Tails Hotel & Playland, 2920 N. Lindbergh, 314-291-3647, www.happytailsinc.net.
Flyball: A team sport for dogs, with relay races, hurdles and catapulted balls. Arch Rivals Flyball Club, www.archrivals.org.
Frisbee: The ultimate dog sport. St. Louis Disc Dogs, www.stldiscdogs.com.
Herding: Your dog can herd sheep, ducks or cattle with the St. Louis Herding Club, slhc.org.
Lure Coursing: This open field competition simulates a hare’s zigzag path to lead the chase. St. Louis Area Sighthounds, www.slashcoursing.org.
Agility: Greater St. Louis Agility Club, www.stlouisagility.org.
Therapy: With hospital visits, a canine drill team to rival the Rockettes and dogs that listen patiently as a child learns to read in the Whiskers & Tales literacy program, Love on a Leash is there. www.loveonaleashstl.com.
Pound for Pound
Even those inhabitants that bark and purr get the attention of city philanthropists.
Local nonprofit organization Animal House is campaigning for a new shelter for unwanted animals, claiming that St. Louis’ existing city pound on Gasconade is dirty and overcrowded and euthanizes more animals than necessary. They want to replace it with a $4 million site on North Vandeventer.
Dogs and cats are kept together in the current city pound, which was built in 1941. The cages are rusting, and space is limited. Animal House is calling for a newer facility, four blocks north of Saint Louis University, with nearly triple the square footage—enough room to keep 250 animals, compared with the current 153 limit. The group hopes to have space for veterinary care and eventually add a spay/neuter clinic. The ultimate goal is a no-kill shelter with on-site adoptions.
Mayor Francis Slay is backing the project, and a gala held May 20 in the St. Louis City Hall rotunda kicked off the fundraising. Animal House is allotting three years in which to raise money and build the facility.
For more information, go to www.animalhousefund.org.
Pets for the Planet
A sweet, yellow-eyed tabby cat named Russell barely lifts his eyelids in gratitude when his ears are stroked as he naps, high on a three-tiered scratching tree. He is safe above the roaming dogs sniffing organic food as their owners mill about Pets in the City (1009A Russell, 314-772-7387, www.thecitypet.com), a shop for all-natural pet products. Russell is a perfect mascot: He was saved six months earlier by co-owner Luis Pizano during Pets in the City’s grand opening. “I heard him say, ‘Do you want to come in?’ and I wondered who he was talking to,” explains Amy Pizano, Luis’ wife and the shop’s other owner. “Russell has been here ever since.”
Amy oversees daily operations and is the resident expert on holistic pet nutrition and behavior. Wearing a “No Chains! Dogs Deserve Better” T-shirt, Amy explains that she studied biology in college, and the store is the result of her MBA thesis coming to life. While working at a corporate job, she went around investigating all-natural pet-store suppliers and carriers. “They were paying me to look around and think about what I would do when I opened the store,” she laughs.
A man from Crestwood enters with his dog, and Pizano encourages him to let go of the leash and allow his pooch to wander about the doggie toy baskets and check out the DogGone Songs CD or the case containing ice cream treats for dogs. The fun novelties accompany holistic supplements, natural-care books and grooming supplies.
The Pizanos have their own menagerie—three dogs, two cats, a bird and invariably a foster dog, this week an East St. Louis street dog who’s hiding behind the counter, recovering from a gunshot wound. The shop is also home base to PJ’s Pet Guardians rescue, and more than 70 dogs have been adopted already with help from the shop’s sponsored fundraisers.
Dog Days
Paula Nykiel steps into the world of Westminster, struggling to stay serious amid the spotlit glamour and wet kisses
The letter arrived in April 2003, swearing her to secrecy. Judges for the 2005 Westminster Dog Show would not be officially announced until May of 2004, but Paula Nykiel, a native St. Louisan now living in Washington, Mo., had been chosen as the sporting-group judge, an honor akin—in the dog world—to serving on the Nobel committee.
Nykiel had handpicked, bred and showed her own champion pointers; she'd judged golden retrievers in Ireland, Irish setters in New South Wales, a 9,000-dog show in Stockholm, four sporting-dog specialties in Sydney. Now she would be one of the handful of group judges in the nation's only all-champion show.
She took her two daughters with her, leaving her husband, Frank Nykiel, at home. An artist and investment advisor, he'd masterminded stock portfolios and transformed an old corncob-pipe factory overlooking the Missouri River into a breathtaking home. But he couldn't bring himself to wear black tie three nights in a row.
The parties started Sunday with the judges' dinner--filet mignon and smoked salmon at the Tennis & Racquet Club--and moved on to Tavern on the Green, where Guggenheim heiress Iris Love's costumed dachshunds and guests' Great Danes strolled nonchalantly past the Trumps. By Tuesday, though, the parties were winding down and the tension was building. Nykiel went over to Madison Square Garden early, knowing that her group, the sporting breeds, was up first. She was miked and told she'd have 42 minutes to get through 26 breeds.
Her racing pulse slowed as she focused on the dogs. She studied the Lab, the Weimaraner (spooked by a boom camera that rolled too close), the crowd-pleasing golden retriever, appraising how closely each conformed to the breed's standard.
Then she saw Carlee, the German shorthaired pointer.
"She's very balanced," Nykiel mused.
"Beautiful head and expression. Effortless power." She checked for the requisite athleticism: "She's in good hard condition, very muscled, and she's the right size." The dog came around the ring, moving smoothly with her handler, Michelle Ostermiller. By her breed's standard, Nykiel decided, Carlee was close to perfection.
The crowd was still pulling for the golden, but Nykiel awarded Carlee first place. Then she relaxed and watched the other groups.
As the firsts in every group re-entered the ring to compete for Best in Show, the announcers kept babbling about the terrier, how amazing it was that she'd had puppies and what a good mother she was. But when the spotlight moved to Carlee, she ended her trot with a perfect "free stack," standing poised, legs back, her gaze soft and unwavering and trained on her handler, ignoring the crowd.
They went wild.
"After that free stack," says Nykiel, "you couldn't overlook her. I thought to myself, that's a show dog."
The Best in Show judge agreed.
When Nykiel bred, she could pick the best in each litter at eight weeks. "Some have this presence about them," she says. "The way they carry themselves as a young puppy is so important. For a show dog, you want a steady temperament, a dog that can be an easy traveler, used to all different situations."
Nykiel grew up dogless; her father, publisher and editor of the Baden News Press, had been bitten as a child and endured rabies shots in the abdomen. So Paula had a quarter horse instead, and when she went away to William Woods College, she brought her horse with her, competing in hunter-jumper shows. She married Frank after college, and they moved to Colorado. Paula bought unbroken quarter horses from a nearby Indian reservation and trained them herself.
The couple's first dog was a springer spaniel they named P.J.'s Raggedy Muffet. Nykiel started showing the dog for fun, then acquired another springer ("I thought it was just a phase," Frank says ruefully) and showed with increasing success.
She fell in love with pointers the way humans fall in love, with instant physical chemistry and a subtext of practical incentives. "I loved their raciness; it reminded me of an Arabian," says Nykiel, "the big round eyes, the dishy face, the small ears." She also loved, now that she had two children, the fact that pointers were drip-dry and didn't require constant grooming. Besides, some of the top handlers had springers, so the field was saturated, making promising springer pups harder for an amateur to purchase. It would be easier to move up with a pointer.
A few months later, one of the top breeders, Jeanne Ellis, called. A couple had divorced, and their dog had come back. Still a puppy, she was already an AKC champion. "She stood very dramatically, she was very sound, and she just kind of had a sparkle to her," says Nykiel, who bought the dog on the spot. Frank chuckles. "Either Jeanne didn't grade the bitch well enough, or she was taking one helluva chance."
Paula showed the pointer herself, and in a year's time the dog was ranked first in the nation. Ellis was so pleased, she offered Nykiel first pick of her next litter. That dog, Head Hunter, ended up Nykiel's biggest winner, top pointer in the nation in both 1979 and 1982. She imported three English pointers and started breeding, learning how to plan a litter three or four years ahead, weighing pedigrees and genotypes and phenotypes, breeding certain dogs together just to get the right mate for one of her dogs.
She also continued to show, taking Head Hunter to New York, where he cheerfully jumped over drunks sprawled on the sidewalk and Frank had to convince a dubious cabbie—who wanted a $100 deposit in case the dog messed up his cab—that the pointer was better bred than most of his human passengers.
Nykiel loves the drama of dog shows—and the unpredictability. Once she watched a woman taking her dog "down and back" for the judge, and as the woman ran, her slip slid down. She didn't miss a step, just kicked it aside and kept going.
"You will see a handler lose the lead and the dog will finish the pattern by himself and stop right in front of the judge," adds Nykiel. "Once Head Hunter was flying around the ring—we were inside a big barn—and he stopped dead and pointed. There was a bird up in the rafters. The judge said, 'Well, he knows his job,' and gave us a first."
Nykiel started the Gateway Sporting Dog Association for Missouri. She's also active in the Missouri Rhineland Kennel Club, helping fund Missouri Search and Rescue Dogs, which sent six dogs to Ground Zero to help with the September 11 recovery work. She's serious about dogs—their care and well-being, their strengths and skills. But she's quick to laugh at parodies of her world.
"I loved the movie Best in Show," she admits. "I know those people."
Who Lives With Whom?
Here are six St. Louisans and the animals they chose to share their lives.
Photographs by Clyde Thomas & Randal Solomon
Chris Massey, running back for the St. Louis Rams, with Ellee (and Maximus)
OK, we cheated. Ellee the Yorkie is really Chris Massey’s wife’s dog. Sarah Massey bought her husband a boxer, Maximus Marciano, as a Christmas present in 2002, the year he signed with the Rams. Now Maximus follows Chris everywhere, relying on the long snapper to send his tennis ball flying. Maximus is the lapdog of the family, quick to wrap his paws around a loved one’s neck, and Ellee is the glutton, nicknamed Biscuit over Sarah’s protests. Ellee’s only resentment is that she’s no longer allowed in bed, because Maximus isn’t. Fair is fair, says Chris, who’s not there in the mornings when Sarah leaves for the gym and Maximus leaps between the sheets.
“You never get lonely when he’s around,” says Chris with a grin. “He wants to be wherever I am, and he likes all the shows we watch—Smallville, The O.C., CSI.” He turns serious: “The loyalty and love a dog brings to the family can’t be matched. I had a chow-chow growing up, but he stayed outside. When I got Maximus, he was like a little person. I fed him, bathed him, comforted him. It really got me prepared for our newborn.” Maddyx Claire arrived May 7, and Maximus was instantly protective. “He’ll put his head over the top of the Pack ’n Play to check on her,” says Sarah, reaching into a bag of bows so that Ellee doesn’t feel slighted. “She’s protective, too.”
William Huffaker, a plastic surgeon with St. Louis Cosmetic Surgery Inc., with Kody
Kody, 8 months old, is the Huffakers’ third Shar-Pei, and there’s been nary a shot of Botox. The choice of breed was actually a sentimental accident: Volunteering at the Villa Duchesne auction, the Huffakers’ daughter had to carry around a puppy to tempt bidders. By the time Bill Huffaker showed up, the decision had been made: Dad had to bid high. And then he fell in love with these dogs’ regal bearing.
“They have a great sense of self-assurance,” Bill says. “They are somewhat arrogant, actually, but they are very loyal. There is no question Kody would fight to the death to save his master.”
The dog was named Kody because Bill thought that he looked like a little Kodiak bear, but his disposition is far gentler. “He likes stuffed animals,” says Bill’s wife, Betty Huffaker, “especially his stuffed bunny. He sleeps with Bunny and carries Bunny around with him.”
Sometimes when the Huffakers come home after dark, one will hide in the yard so Kody has to guess where the missing family member is. Kody’s a huge game player (he’s even learned where to tackle their daughter’s leggy Weimaraners), and “he runs like a tiger, with his front and back legs in a straight line. It’s just beautiful to watch,” Bill says. “He’s also a herder, and if he doesn’t have anything to herd, he’ll try to herd the family.”
Joan Lipkin, founding artistic director of That Uppity Theatre Company, with Mr. Crisp
Joan Lipkin named her cockatiel for Quentin Crisp, hailed as the 20th century Oscar Wilde, after producing one of his last performances. Crisp was 90 at the time, clad in a Victorian ruffled shirt. The cockatiel, Mr. Crisp, is equally elegant—but turned out to be female. No matter. “She’s quite taken with herself, just like the original Mr. Crisp,” says Joan. “She’s a bit of a diva and can be rather inconsiderate, but I’m so enchanted, I forgive her easily.
“As a director, I’m interested in move-ment,” she continues. “I watch Mr. Crisp fly around my apartment, and it’s magical. I’m also fascinated by how expressive she is. She doesn’t even have face muscles. It’s all in the way she holds her head and narrows or widens her eyes.
“The intimacy of the relationship I have with this creature that weighs six ounces is extraordinary,” Joan adds. “She always knows when something is wrong, probably by the pitch of my voice, and she starts to cry. She’s capricious, but when she’s in the mood to connect, she will butt my hand and I will pet the nape of her neck. We like many of the same food groups: toast, chocolate ice cream, cheese popcorn ...
“Mr. Crisp has a different way of being in the world. It takes me out of myself, and I start noticing everything differently.”
Joe Mokwa, chief of the St. Louis Police Department, with Truffles
Joe Mokwa adopted the self-possessed but playful Truffles from the Humane Society as a companion for 100-pound mutt Buddy. He chose her name on a whim; later, his wife, Jan Torrisi-Mokwa, read that standard poodles are rivaled only by pigs in their ability to find truffles in the French countryside.
Truffles’ talents, however, are more social: She jumps up on the bed at 6 a.m., regular as an alarm, for cuddling with the chief, and if he stops too soon, she swats him with her paw—except on Saturdays, when she’s expecting a trip with Jan to Kaldi’s for cinnamon scones. A certified Canine Good Citizen, Truffles works as a therapy dog at the Gatesworth—but she also knows how to relax. After dinner, she goes into the living room and rolls around luxuriously on the couch, stretching and settling into the cushions like somebody after a big Thanksgiving meal. “Or she’ll go in there and sit by herself and look out the window,” says Joe. “She’s very independent. She doesn’t get excited by anything. She’s fascinated by cats, though—she really likes them.
“She’s captain of the canine division,” he adds. “No, I made that up. Those German shepherds would never forgive me.”
Joyce Dunard, a great-grandmother and shelter volunteer, with Midget, Nibbles and Val
What’s a grandmother doing with five ferrets?
“Well, I had a skunk,” Joyce Dunard says matter-of-factly, “and Missouri outlawed skunks.” She only brought three of the ferrets for the photo shoot, leaving the youngest and grumpiest at home. Present were “Midget, who’s a bit of an old fogey; Nibbles, because she’s a survivor, having recovered from cryosurgery for pancreatic cancer; and Val—she’s the wild one.” Dunard grins. “When we have the walkathon to raise money for the ferret shelter, she’s going costumed as the devil.”
Val and her comrades have the run of the house. They’re nocturnal, but they come out in the morning and play together for a while. They watch cartoons on TV. Then they go off to sleep in a nest of old clothes in Dunard’s dresser drawer. When they wake up, they campaign for peanut butter and banana-flavored treats. At the walkathon for the shelter at which Dunard volunteers, they walk on five tiny leashes, tugging her along.
“They were wonderful when my husband passed away from cancer,” she says. “They always knew when I was sad. They even licked my tears away—probably because of the salt, but it made me feel better.”
She scoops up Val, who’s about to wriggle off the table, and frowns at Midget: “Girls!”
Mike Isaacson, vice president and producer for the Fox Theatre, with his mutt, Max
Mike Isaacson adopted Max from a shelter 11 years ago. “He’s such a dog, in the ‘dawg’ sense,” says Isaacson. “He just wants to be in the room with you. He always has to be where people are. That’s what he’s about. And he will eat anything that’s not nailed down. He’s a lurker: He will sit there and watch, sit there and watch, and when you step away from the roast beef, he’ll get it.”
Max now hangs out with Dexter, a probable terrier-schnauzer mix. “They remind me of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in Grumpy Old Men,” says Isaacson, grinning, “but they’re the ones that taught me that getting up in the morning and having to worry about somebody besides yourself is the best thing for the soul.”
Not to mention the fact that if Isaacson doesn’t get up at the usual time, Max starts whacking him with his paw. Max likes routine. “It’s very grounding,” says Isaacson. “You can come home from the Tony Awards and realize, ‘I’ve got to have plastic bags so I can pick up the dog crap.’” And even though Max isn’t a bit theatrical, he’s sensitive: “If there’s tension in a room, he’ll look sad for a while, and if it doesn’t get better, he’ll leave: ‘Let me know when you are done and we can all be human again.’ He’s very simple emotionally,” says Isaacson. “He’s taught me to value that.”
Beyond Bells and Whistles
How to photograph your pet like a pro
Advice from Randal Solomon, a professional animal photographer and the creator of www.starpooch.com, a new site that features dog photos and raises funds for shelters, clubs and rescue groups:
Cats are actually much easier to photograph than dogs. Cats don't care about you; they go off and do their own thing quite naturally. But dogs want your attention, so they move a lot and wag their tails. Tire your dog out before a photo session; throw the ball 20 times.
Dogs also have a tendency to be very interested in you and then not interested at all and then suspicious: Why are you pointing this big black thing at me? So keep your photo session short. Instead of shooting for an hour, shoot five different times, 10 minutes each session.
Find your background. A tree, a park or even leaves are much more enticing than your living-room floor. Nobody wants to see your wallpaper. Besides, outside you don't have to use a flash—just put your camera on "program" and let it fly.
Shoot early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the sun is softer. Try to be somewhere you can take the leash off. A leash—that's not art. And get that collar off, too.
Now, get on your dog's level—get down low.
Don't make the same whistle or snap or smooch sound every time. Jazz it up; do different things to get the dog's attention. And remember, your dog doesn't have to be looking at you to take a great picture.
Dogs can't hear with their mouths open because of the panting. If you want the dog to shut his mouth, whisper.
Stop centering your pictures. You don't need to see the dog's entire body right in the center of the image. Let it breathe. If you have a beautiful tree, place the dog down in the lower half.
Crop. Take a picture of just your dog's paws, or her tail, or just the eyes. Take an out-of-focus shot of the snout. Open your mind and start creating art. Your dog will respect you for it.
By Traci Angel and Jeannette Batz Cooperman
