mail call Lotto Dog
WINNER Rock Biter
Moose is a Goldendoodle who absolutely loves the water! He’s been swimming ever since he was a puppy. At our cottage, the first thing he does is run to the bay. The unique thing about Moose is that he also loves to dive for rocks. All of a sudden one day, his head went under and he came back up with a rock. He will spend all day diving for rocks and bringing them up on shore. Most of these rocks are not small, either. When getting these rocks, he will start off by batting the rock with his front paws. Then, when he has it right where he wants it, he puts his head under. While he holds his breath and opens his eyes, he dives under and grabs the rock. Another cool thing about him is that if you throw a rock out into the water, he will bring back the exact rock that you threw. He will somehow find the rock among all the others and bring it back to you on shore. Moose is an amazing 6-year-old who loves the water and will stay in all day. He also loves to come swimming with the family. He swims all the way out to wherever you go, and he does not appreciate being left behind at the house. Moose is a dog who loves the water and being with his family.
Why is this dog smiling? We found her living in the back of a beat-up 1952 Studebaker RV in St. Ignace, Michigan. She was six months old and extremely cute. It was love at first sight. Her kind owner gave her to us, but in the end it became a rescue. After the fact, we discovered she had a multitude of serious problems: No shots, malnutrition, fleas, internal parasites, deformed dew claws, a second row of baby teeth that never fell out, and a hernia. Our vet said without the medical and dental attention we gave her, including surgery, she wouldn’t have lasted three years. Since initial rehabilitation, she has enjoyed summers at her vacation home in Cheboygan, Michigan, cruising the upper Great Lakes including the North Channel. On all cruises, she commandeers the position of bowspirit on the dinghy. In the off season, she travels the U.S. by land and has been on several legs of the Great Circle Loop. Of course, gourmet meals and the finest sleeping accommodations are included. We have never regretted rescuing her and making her queen of the castle. Samantha truly won the “canine lottery.” In return, she has given us 18½ years of the most loyal and loving companionship any animal could offer. We love her dearly. Gerald T. Odom Farmington Hills, MI
Katie Molenhouse Holland, MI
Congratulations to Moose and Samantha (and their families)! As grand prize winner of Lakeland Boating’s “Calling all Canines & Felines, Too” contest announced in our May 2011 issue, Moose will receive a Paws Aboard life jacket. Samantha, our first runner-up, will receive the Total Pet Health™ First Aid Kit. Thank you to all who entered our contest and shared wonderful pet photos and stories. We encourage you to keep ’em comin’; we’re always looking for great furry family members to feature in the magazine’s monthly “Canine Crewmember” section. Simply send a brief write-up and photo (at least 1 MB) to: staff@lakelandboating.com. 6 LAKELANDBOATING.COM J U L Y 2 011
RUNNER-UP Got something to say? We love hearing from you! E-mail us at staff@lakelandboating.com, or drop us a line at Lakeland Boating, 727 South Dearborn St., Suite 812, Chicago, IL 60605. The opinions expressed in Mail Call are not necessarily those of Lakeland Boating. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.