Pet of the Week
Meet Wonder the snowy and stout shepherd, CultureMap's pet of the week
Name: Wonder, as in Boy Wonder, Seven Wonders, One Hit Wonder, and I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now?
Birthdate: February 27, 2016. I am fully grown, a solid 58 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal, but I've still got a lotta puppy in me.
Ethnicity: I'm a regal white shepherd mix, very rare, like a snow leopard. I am an active child — running and leaping and playing. I would need a yard with a good fence. I'm good with other dogs, but it'd be better if the other dog were big like me. I love to go on walks, chase tennis balls, ride in cars, the usual doggie activities.
I'm housebroken — we have a winner! I don't like to be left alone so a home with lots going on would be perfect. I'm a looker. You take me on walks and everybody will tell you how handsome I am. You'll make new friends. I'm your wingman...er, wingdog.
Come and get me: I'm available for adoption at 11 am Friday, February 8 at Citizens for Animal Protection (17555 Katy Freeway; 281-497-0591). Tell them, "Ken sent me."
Wonder what's up? Here's the fun part about adopting a dog from a shelter. They're like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates ... you never know what you'll get.
Last month, I adopted Sally. The card on her cage said "Schnauzer/Terrier mix." I'm not a dog geneticist, but I could tell right away, this ain't no Schnauzer/terrier mix. I figured some sort of retriever combo platter. Dr. Mark Silverman, "Veterinarian to the Stars," looked her over and guessed Irish wolfhound.
I got one of those doggie DNA tests, swabbed inside her cheeks and mailed it to on of those canine heritage foundations. Got the results this week: Sally is a collie and poodle mix (is that even physically possible?) with some Maltese thrown in for dessert.
That is, if you believe these pooch ancestry companies. They always ask for a photo of the dog, so I'm not sure they even check the slobbered Q-tip. I also don't think that voting machines are plugged in.
That's the thing about undocumented stray dogs from a shelter. They rarely carry driver's licenses, birth certificates, or photocopies of their family tree.
The only thing I know 100-percent for sure about Sally? She's wonderful.
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Dog lover? Ken Hoffman introduces you to an adorable pup available for adoption in Houston every Thursday.