Everybody knows the old saying “a dog is man’s best friend” but over time it seems that dogs have become everyone’s best friend. Pam Rao and her family own a 15-week-old gold retriever named Charlie. They adopted him at just 8 weeks old and he has been part of the family ever since. Pam laughs and says, “Sometimes it’s harder training the kids then the dog because I always have to keep them from giving him too many treats.” Pam also comments, “When Charlie wakes up in the morning he is so happy to see you. All he does is rub up against you and wags his tail so hard he ends up falling down.”
Sarah Babson of Vienna is also a dog person, owning two herself. Tucker is a 16-year-old schnoodle and Ziva is 2 1/2-year-old schnauzer. Fun fact about Ziva; she was given a name from the TV show NCIS by her breeder. Babson comments, “There are so many things that make Tucker and Ziva unique, especially how they play together even though Tucker is a lot older. I also love how they both want to be in the pet stroller I bought for Tucker. I pulled Ziva out one time to put Tucker in and she just decided she wasn’t done and jumped right back in!”
“The main difference between the two,” Babson comments, is that Tucker will bark at something for a second and then turn and focus his attentions toward something else while Ziva will bark and bark and bark at one thing because she doesn’t really know size.” Tucker and Ziva are just too cute for words.
While dogs seem to dominate in Vienna area, Karin Young owns a pet slightly different. Karin owns a 3-year-old Holland Lop rabbit named Haruki. Karin has owned Haruki for about two and a half years now. “Despite the fact he has very frequent vet visits, Haruki is very fun and open, like a dog almost. He is very playful and open to strangers it’s really great,” she said.
Fun fact about the Japanese name “Haruki,” it means radiance, shine and life.
Whoever said diamonds were a girl’s best friend clearly never owned a dog. Emily Panek, however, knows otherwise. She owns a very loving mutt named Sandy. Her dad jokingly comments, “She’s Heinz 57; she’s all mix.” Sandy is 7 months old, but has been a part of Emily’s life and family since she was a tiny puppy only 14 weeks old. Emily comments, “She really loves her little toy squeaky snake and she loves taking my socks.”
Sandy’s original name was Kisses given to her for how much she loves licking people, but the name Sandy matches her sandy colored coat which complements her little black mouth and nose.