WINTER OF 2006 
By Eileen Michals
Last month I took a break from the ongoing saga of the life of “The Shreq” as I didn’t want everyone to think all he did was work or help me, so used a column to talk about what he does for fun. Started this experience in Doberman Digest writing about when he moved here back in the fall of 2004. Now we are up to the fall of 2006 and I am looking for something to do during the winter after the fall shows are over.
The PAWS To Read program seemed like a project that would fit in with the library programs Shreq was already doing during the summer, so I started contacting libraries in our area. I was able to convince a few branches to give the program a try for a few months and bent some elbows to get other Therapy Dog owner teams to help out. We ended up with FOUR adult Newfoundlands alternating weeknights at West Richland; a Viszla at the Pasco branch; a Miniature Wirehaired Dachshund at Keewaydin and Shreq and Kayos were set up at Kennewick.
To get the program information out to the public, we did a few television spots showing Shreq with children reading books to him, one of these TV spots went out to the national news – must have been a very very quiet weekend in the US. On a Doberman list, Nancy Troyer asked “Hi all! I saw a story on the news here in Texas the other day about the PAWS to Read program and it featured a library in Washington State. The dog they showed the children reading to was a beautiful red Doberman. All I saw was the head and neck. If anyone knows who this is, please tell!”
His owner, Michelle Santana, being familiar with the um ‘low profile?’ life a certain red Doberman lives in the NW, knew just what dog the person was asking about. Her response was “Shreq-er-doo's Stage name is ~Ch Foxfire's Imaginary Monster. LOL He is by Ch Eastwick' Meadow Monster x Ch Foxfire's Imagine That (who is by a Demon son, Ch Wrath's Dance With the Devil x my Choas dau. (who just celebrated her 11th birthday!) Ch Foxfire's Take That (who was in a TT for a couple of years)”. In re-reading this paragraph, I just realized that Shreq is a Jazzy Lady grandson and since Anonymous is a Demon daughter, he must be her cousin or nephew of something like that – twice removed. I will have to ask my husband, he is the genealogist in the family.
During the initial launching of the PAWS program, Shreq and his best girl, Nawdia, an 8" tall Dachshund were kept busy with newspaper and weekend magazine interviews to 
get more information out to the public about this wonderful program. The confidence and poise of the youngsters interviewed amazed me as I would have stammered and been embarrassed with that huge camera in my face and wearing a microphone as reporters asked questions. I just have to get the dog there on time for the interviews, easy job.
In January each year, our local branch of the library (Friends of the Library group) hosts a large book sale at which Shreq and I are in charge of sorting the paperback books. We get to use a large stage area which keeps him out of the way and still involved with the process. After a couple of days sorting romance, westerns, Sci-fi, etc. we then move to a smaller branch for the book sale there. We are in charge of the money and the hospitality. Shreq gets remembered year to year and it is fun to see folks walk up to the doorway and peek around to see if he is there before coming in. As soon as he is spotted, there are big grins and lots of neck scratches for Shreq. An Honorarium in his name was sent by the Friends of the Library to Love On A Leash this spring. LOAL wrote that they will be using it to help promote the PAWS program among therapy dogs in their organization.
Shreq and I were asked to make therapy visits to a new facility that combines 4 houses, each with 5 bedrooms, living room, dining room, etc. There is lovely landscaping, and big screen TV’s in each house. It is a relaxing place to visit and we both enjoy going there every month. It doesn’t take many visits before he learns the layout, and that the Activities Director is the one to follow. A recent addition to the facility is a mini Rex rabbit which was an unusual highlight of his latest visit. Even a year later, he stills looks for a squirrel spotted once at another assisted living facility that we often visit.
Shreq and Anonymous were both working towards their CD titles this winter, so the trips back to Yakima – 80 miles away – once a week took up the Mondays for the next two months. Shreq had gotten his Rally Novice and Rally Advanced titles and we were also trying to get those last few signs done for the Rally Excellent, so lots of parallel ‘ back’, ‘back’, ‘back’ practice.
Shreq was part of a POPP = Prevention of the Over Population of Pets promotion at a park fund raiser, which was interesting. He wore his favorite costume, Elvis, and posed with children and adults alike as they paid to have their pictures taken with ‘Elvis’. Anonymous and Shreq were both on TV one night during an obedience club practice session as the club wanted to promote the upcoming Canine Good Citizenship classes
He has done promos on TV about library use and dog training. Numerous newspaper articles also on therapy work, PAWS to Read and library programs. Shreq is not a low profile dog, but a good representation of the Doberman breed as he is a Champion, has performance titles, recently was awarded an Advanced Degree in Pet Therapy; has some pups finishing in the breed ring and keeps me moving every day in some way.
As I have written previously, I just handle his social calendar and screen his phone calls, he seems to be an ongoing phenomenon in our area. Every time we get off a streak of several engagements and I think we will have some quiet time – for me to read those book sale paperbacks – the phone rings and he is wanted somewhere for something.
Enjoy each day with your dog. I wish they lived as long as Pot Bellied Pigs which I hear go 25 years. Take care, Eileen, Shreq and Anonymous (who is starting to track at age 10, with hand signals since she lost her hearing in a stroke)
Reprinted with permission from the "Doberman Digest"
You can click on any of the titles below to read the essay:
The Doberman and Cowboy ·
September 11 ·
Max the Rescue
· Paws Claws Scales and Tails
· Winter of 2006
· Mesu
· The Eggnog Doberman
· Dolphie