Egon

Hi Everybody!

My name is Egon and I was adopted in June 2008 by a couple of primates (monkeys, I think) in Chicago who love me very much. I enjoy running on the beach, hiding under the table, ornithology and sun bathing. My monkeys were told that I am part German Shepherd and part Siberian Husky although other primates frequently tell them I look like a coyote, an arctic wolf, a jackal and other ferocious wild things. Grrrr.

You could say that I'm the kind of dog that has to meet every tree I see. Each one just smells so different. They each have their own story. I would never do anything to hurt a tree, so I pick my targets very carefully. I personally make sure that they are away from storm drains or other outlets that could contaminate ground water and I never do my business where humans walk or play. This isn't something my monkeys make me do; it's a personal choice that I've made on my own.

One of my favorite daily activities is taking a walk. I jump for joy when I hear the word "walk." And you know what? I love my hemp leash and collar! I've had them ever since I got adopted. They are purple and nice to chew on and organic and soft and they get stronger when they are wet. My monkeys bought them at the cutest local business. I even made my Mama Monkey fix my leash when my best buddies and I chewed through it completely. On my walks, my monkeys and I pick up all the garbage and recycling we find on the street. We only use found baggies that can't be recycled to pick up my "business" deposits. That way no additional products have to be made just to . . . you know. Another really cool thing we do on walks is getting to know our neighbors. In just over a year, I've made a ton of doggy friends! This helps my monkeys understand what is going on in the neighborhood and help with worthwhile local causes.

There's a lot of other things I do to minimize my ecological impact. Here's a short list.

• With my husky coat, I shed A LOT. My Mama Monkey composts all of my hair in our backyard.
•  My Daddy Monkey buys all of my toys from thrift stores. This way a company doesn't have to manufacture and ship all of my toys from who-knows-where. Buying used minimizes pollution and the proceeds go to charity!
•  I'm exploring the BARF diet so I can start getting all of my food from local sources.
•  I've already been camping twice this year! Instead of medicated powders, I tried geranium oil as tick protection because antibiotics and pest repellents for dogs can end up in our water supply. And guess what? Not only did it work, but I smelled so, so good!
•  I love other animals and always do my best to help them! This year, I found a little kitty on the beach by my house. I asked my monkeys to help him find a home and after living with us for a few days, he found a great home with a librarian. How purrfect is that? The highlight of my year was helping a hurt squirrel. The little guy was lying dazed and topsy-turvy underneath a giant tree . . . like he had just fallen out or something. I got my Mama Monkey to wrap him up in a towel and make him a bed in a cardboard box. He was all better the next morning. I'm so glad he didn't get eaten by a skunk!

Please vote for me. I was a dog that got rejected everywhere I went because I look so scary. Not even the shelters wanted me. When I got adopted it changed my life. I'd love to be an ambassador of sorts for other unwanted tough-looking dogs out there. I just want to tell everyone that we all have the potential for learning every day and becoming really good dogs.

Love,
Egon

PS  Please be my friend on Doggy Space

http://www.doggyspace.com/profile/16305