Furgel D Interview
Tell me a bit about yourself:
I'm a Terrier cross approximately 7yrs old and I'm a rescue from Tijuana Mexico. I just celebrated my 'adoption day' on Sept 26th for the second year since coming to Canada.
I didn't have the best start and met up with some bad humans before being found by a nice lady named Patricia in a dirty valley known for abandoned pets in Tijuana. She brought me and some of my friends food and would check on us every day until one day she found my friend dead and myself beaten up badly by a mean man known to live in the valley.
I'm told he was caught and is paying for his bad deeds which is a good thing since there are many others still trying to make it after being abandoned in that valley.
I was taken to the doctor and patched up, but unfortunately, they had to take my right eye because it was too far gone to fix. I also had a broken hip so I now have a short back leg, but I don't let it stop me!
Patricia contacted a rescue organization called Dogway she heard about and got me in!!! I was then on my way to Canada via California, Oregon and Washington.
It was a long drive, but I made it and found myself in a house with many other pups looking for a new start.
Cherry at Dogway was a great lady too, and she would take us all to adoption events to meet with nice people looking for a dog just like me!
I was matched up with some humans that were very excited to have me even though I was missing an eye. They took me home and we have all been together now for two whole years!
I've trained them well and we go for bike rides in my own special bike seat called a "Buddy Rider" (which I recommend to all pups under 25ibs) and we go for trips to the beach to run and play on the sand. I also make sure they get out for many walks each day.
One day not too long ago I woke up and couldn't see anything out of my eye. My peeps took me to the doctor and found out some not so good news. I would have to have my remaining eye removed due to disease. It was very painful and since there wasn't any chance of my sight coming back, the best thing to do was remove it.
It's now been 6months and I'm pain free and good to go! I know how to jump on the bed, couch and even into the car. I run in the park and on the beach and my peeps let me know when to turn right or left or when I should stop before bumping into anything.
I'm super happy with how things have worked out for me and my people tell me they wouldn't change a thing about me. I'm perfect!!
How many humans/siblings do you have and long have you had them?
My two humans are Kehli & Mark. I'm the only pup, but my building has many dogs and we all hang out together often.
Do you work? If so where/what do you do?
Actually, I do go to work sometimes at UBC Faculty of Education and I have worked in the passed at VGH as well with Mark. I'm told I'm a comfort dog and I have vest.
And I have also spent some time on TV and Movie sets with my person Kehli.
I'm always greeted with great excitement and really enjoy making friends everywhere I go.
If you could choose your name what would it be?
I did choose my name! I was called Claudio before I met Kehli and Mark.
They offered me Claudio, Guiness or Furgel and I chose Furgel D. The D came along because everyone has two names, right? It stand for Dog. That's right, I'm a Furgel Dog!
What is your favourite food?
CHICKEN!!!!!!!
Where is your favourite place to be?
Anywhere with Kehli and Mark. And my favorite spot to be with them would be riding on the bike out to the beach at low tide where we can all run around freely and I don't have to worry about bumping into anything.
What is your favourite way to entertain yourself (annoy your humans)?
I like to dig holes.......in the couch, the bed, the floor and roll around blowing my nose in them. (I don't actually damage anything....I'm a good boy.)
......Okay, Mark and Kehli say that I can drop a pretty bad stink bomb, but I admit to nothing.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Surviving homelessness and near death. And facing every day in the dark......but I'm most proud of being happy and grateful for all I have been blessed with.
Oh, I've also done the BCSPCA Paws for a cause walk the last two years in a row and this year I did it blind. Can't stop me!!!
What is your next goal in life?
I'd like to go try an agility class. Kehli wanted to take me last year before I lost my eye, but I think I could still do it! I'm good at listening and taking direction.
If you could be/do anything for a day, what would it be?
I'm living the dream! But really I just want to continue to do all the things I did before losing my sight. I don't want to be seen as handicapped......I'm handi-abled!
I'd like to spread the word to everyone that having a blind, older, or otherwise seen as disabled unwanted pet is just as great and fulfilling as any other. And we can all fill your world with love, laughter and purpose!
Finally and most importantly...What was your human’s most embarrassing moment?
Well, I don't embarrass easily, but in our condo complex there is a little female dog that is also vision impaired from diabetes and they seem to think we should be best friends, but I think she smells like a crazy ex girlfriend and jump back every time she comes near me. They always apologize and say how embarrassed they are that I react that way to the sweet little dog. Whatever........
