By Jennifer Reed
At The Drake Center, it’s no surprise our families are a bit…furry. From dogs and cats to horses, chickens and an emu, we’d like you to meet the loves of our lives—our pets.
Proud pet parent: Hayley, veterinary care provider
Coors, Australian cattle dog
Sierra, German shepherd
If you had to choose, would you say you are a cat person or a dog person? Why?
I guess I would have to say I am more of a dog person, but I love horses as much as I love dogs. I am very active and love that my dogs can go places with me, from hikes to horse events.
How did you get your pets? Why did you choose those particular breeds?
We have always had shepherds. They are great dogs and really love their families. My parents got Sierra as a puppy from my dad's friend. He breeds shepherds as service dogs, attack dogs and family dogs. After my sister and her husband got a puppy from him, my parents caved and got one, too.
I got Coors because I wanted a dog with energy to go running with me, but also small enough to live in my apartment and travel with me. I also wanted a naturally protective dog. Cattle dogs tend to form a strong bond with their person or family.
Both of my dogs are high energy and love to be on the go. Some people think they are too intense and stubborn, but actually they are just highly intelligent and need people who understand that side of them.
What is special about your pets?
My dogs are total opposites! Sierra is the first one out the door to bark when she hears a strange noise, while Coors stays at my feet and growls with all his hair up. Sierra is more independent, but gets really upset when the suitcases get pulled out to go on vacation. Coors will follow your every movement around the house, unless you’re cleaning. He is terrified of the vacuum and hides behind the couch.
The day after I got Coors, he was hospitalized with parvo and almost didn't make it. He will always be my special boy. He is my best friend and goes everywhere with me—he gets so excited when he sees my car keys. He also loves to go hiking and cuddle in front of the TV. He’s been there for me through a lot and that means the world to me.
What is the cutest thing about your pets, physically?
For Sierra, I would have to say her facial expressions. She has an all black face with little tan eyebrows. She tilts her head side to side when you talk to her like she's thinking about what you’re saying.
For Coors, it's his small size and docked tail. He acts like he's bigger than he really is and his little nub of a tail moves a mile a minute when he's excited. Sometimes, his whole butt wiggles.
What do you let your pets get away with that you probably shouldn't?
Sierra begs for cookies. She stands next to the pantry door first thing in the morning and will follow you and even block your path so you’ll get her one.
I also let Coors jump up on me sometimes to give hugs or get him so excited that he barks when he shouldn’t.
What is your favorite memory or story about your pets?
When I was moving to Pomona for school, Sierra sat down in one of my suitcases and would not move. After I moved out, my parents would find her in my room all the time. She would go up there to take naps in the sun. Now that I’ve moved back home, I let her sleep in my room with me when my parents are out of town. She also still hangs out in my room during the day if I leave the door open.
Coors is my little wild child and I have a ton of funny memories with him. My most recent memory is bringing him to work with me a few weeks ago. I was early and decided to stop and get a bagel. I tied him to one of the chairs outside and walked in to order, but Coors doesn't really like to be away from me. When I got to the back of the shop, he decided I went too far and dragged the chair through the bagel shop to get me. I had no idea what to do, so I took the chair back outside and thankfully, the nice guy at the counter let me bring him in with me to get breakfast.
What do your pets bring to the dynamic of your family?
My dogs are kind of the glue to our life sometimes. Even when your human family can't be there, your dog always is. They are always there to go hiking or cuddle with you when you have had a bad day. They love unconditionally and are always excited to see you. They bring a sense of balance and can help create a routine; they can be great motivators to exercise or cuddly couch potatoes.
Occasionally, they can drive you a little nuts and of course get sick or injured at the worst possible time, but they always love you. A friend once sent me a card with a quote from a little boy. When someone asked him, “What is love?” He answered, "Love is when a puppy licks your face." When they laughed, he added, "Even after you left him alone all day."
For most people, that's true. You leave your dog or cat at home all day, but they are still always there to love you when you get home, no matter what.