Good News - April 2021

April 11 is National Pet Day, founded in 2006 to celebrate the joy pets can bring to us and to bring attention to pets of all kinds wait- ing in shelters to be adopted. With that in mind, Good News Wants to Know.... Do you have a beloved family pet or have you had one in the past? If so, share an endearing anecdote. My wife Ashley and I weren't able to have kids, so God provided us with furry kids that are the love of our lives. We have three wonderful recuses: a Tabby named Tigger and two Maine Coon, Button and Piper. Brian Mudd, Program Director, Host of The Morning Rush & The Brian Mudd Show , iHeartMedia Fifteen years ago we attended a school fundraising auction and surprisingly came home with a black fur ball who we named Trax. She quickly became amember of our family, and we looked forward to the challenge each Christmas morning of how quickly she could tear apart a new squeaky toy to get to the noise. When Trax woke up each day, she was excited and wagging her tail, which served as a reminder to us that yesterday has passed and God's mercies are new every day. William “Bill” C. Davell, Director. Tripp Scott Attorneys at Law About15 years ago my husband came home with a cute baby beagle. People said, “You better watch her as she is a hound.” I found out what that meant at her first Thanksgiving when she sneaked up on the dining room table and had her face in the pecan pie! Char Talmadge, Director, Rescue Upstream I love my 11-year-old German Aussie Boomer. I remember moving from a one- story single-family home to a townhouse. As I watched my then 6-year-old Boomer maneuver stairs for the first time, I wondered if I had made a mistake in my relocation decision. Flash forward a few weeks, and he was barreling down the stairs, coming breathtakingly close to the wall, but never crashing. Today, at age 11, he remains puppy-like in many ways -- always ready to play or go for a walk. His antics continue to bring a smile to my face, whether he's thrashing a toy or peering intently at the floor just hoping a morsel of food will drop within his reach. ChristineC.Walker, Director,MarketingandPublicRelations,HolyCrossHealth We’ve had plenty of pets over the years, and right nowmy favorite is my daugh- ter’s maltipoo Luna, mainly because I get to enjoy the benefits without the responsi- bilities. She is a very protective dog, so the moment anyone comes near me, she races to my side and begins to growl, and the closer they get, the louder she growls. It is fun when my husband tries to give me a kiss. Luna will have none of it! Major Connie Long, Area Commander, The Salvation Army My first and fondest pet was a blue parakeet named Pretzel. I spent hours with the bird as a child repeating words, and eventually Pretzel said many things. He had a habit of repeating part of the words, however. Here is an example: Pretty bird, T bird, T bird; Pretty bird, T bird, T bird Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, President, Professor of Health Sciences, Palm Beach Atlantic University We had an Akita for 11 years named Kira – awesome watch dog and loved to run alongside our four wheelers in the woods then would rest for two days due to ex- haustion. Currently we travel to much to get another pet. Don Campion, President, Banyan Air Service, Inc. We used to have a black lab many years ago. Her name was Minnie. We got her from the county dog shelter. Minnie ruined us because after losing her, we had other dogs but every other dog we had we would compare them all to Minnie. Minnie was more than a dog to us. She was gentle and loving but would bare her teeth if she sensed any of us in danger. Minnie, we miss you. Fidel Gomez, Pastor, Calvary Chapel Hollywood We have a new puppy now, but our last beloved pet that we had for years was named “honey girl.” My wife saw her being walked by a neighbor several years back, and we learned that the neighbor was fostering the mother and 11 puppies for the Humane Society. Once they found out that my wife was interested in adopting the mother, we ended up with her within two weeks, and she spent 10 years with us. She had heart worms, needed to be spayed, got breast cancer, and got loose the first couple of weeks we had her, and almost lost a leg! It came in very handy that I was a veterinarian! Having said all that, she was the sweetest dog we’ve ever owned, and we really miss her! Dr. Fred Scarbrough, Founder, Scarbrough Animal Hospital and HOPE South Florida Flash, aka Flasho, son of Dash. He had a lightning rod of white fur on his fore- head. Flash was pure-bred and beloved, a border collie who was an expert at catch- ing frisbees. The way he flew through the air as he grabbed the disk while in flight was sheer magic. At times he’d come up beside us as we talked and wanted to join in, trying as he could to speak “human” – not a bark or growl, but a real attempt to converse. He was family. Dr. Gene L. Green, Dean, Trinity International University – Florida I never had a pet as a child or adult. My parents really did not focus on being an animal lover from that perspective.As a result I have not done either withmy children, but I have to tell you my daughter loves dogs, so I know I will be living with dogs when I am old and gray. Germaine Smith Baugh, Ed.D, President and CEO, Urban League of Broward County That’s an easy question for me! Our beloved dog, Jake, is our “furever” Company mascot. We are so fond of boxers because they are such an amazing gentle and friendly breed. In fact, we love them so much we are enjoying our third one! Gregg Wallick, President, Best Roofing, Inc. William “Bill” C. Davell Char Talmadge Christine C. Walker Major Connie Long Dr. Debra A. Schwinn Don Campion Wants to Know… Brian Mudd