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WOOF Moniker: Honey
Canine Informant: Stan Friedman
There’s a great deal to consider when getting a pet. Before adopting or purchasing any pet please take a page from our LUVABLE profiled family.
Prior to their adoption of Honey, her soon-to-be family - Stan, Paula and their son Michael Friedman - talked with one another about the responsibilities as well as their lifestyle needs prior to guardianship. They asked themselves key questions:
How much care and time would a new pet require?
What role would family members play in their dog’s daily life? For example: Who would feed the pet? Bathe it? Take it for morning, afternoon and evening walks? Play with it? Socialize it?
What dog would best meet their expectations of size, breed and personality?
The Friedman’s wanted to adopt a shelter animal. They realized that many times a rescued pet has been through physical and/or emotional trauma. This was something the Friedman’s factored into their decision making process. Socializing a pet is as important as feeding it. In rescue situations socializing is crucial and can’t be minimized.
WOOF Patrol: Tell us how your family came to rescue Honey? Was there an adjustment phase? Did she face any challenges to a new environment? Or was it a perfect match right away?
Stan Friedman: We looked long and hard for a dog that would fit the Friedman family culture. We wanted to be certain that the pet that we rescued would be a dog that would be as happy to have us as we were to have her. Yes there was an adjustment phase. For the first several months Honey was very shy. She did not bark, was not very playful and was extremely nervous around people, especially men. Most of these were overcome with time. She now barks when she hears the doorbell, is much more playful and while still sometimes a bit more aloof than the average pooch, she has developed a warm and loving personality.
W.P.: Do you have a funny story about Honey that you can share with WOOF Patrol readers?
S.F.: Honey is usually a pretty docile dog. Every now and then though, for reasons known only to her, one might think she downed a pot of coffee. Out of nowhere, she will begin barking and ask you to try and catch her as she runs laps all over the house. Up and down stairs, from room to room and in circles, she seems possessed with energy and raring to go. Most other times, she is very independent and will play with one or two toys, but never is she as much fun to watch as when she goes racing around the house like an Indy car.
Photo: Honey © Stan Friedman
What do we learn from our dog? To live and love life and to take nothing for granted. Honey is as sweet a dog as I’ve ever seen. She asks for nothing, but in return, she is showered with love and affection. No amount of money or breeding could have produced a finer, sweeter canine. The best things in life are free.
Likely Quote from Honey: As independent as she usually is, her quote would be, “I must have been a cat in a past life.”
Honey’s Toys & Tricks: Her favorite toy is a stuffed squirrel. She likes playing tug of war with the squirrel and if you circle her head with it, she will spin her head around trying to catch it. She also plays hide and seek. She hides in the bathroom and we put out a treat. She comes out nose first and doesn’t quit looking, until she finds it.
Honey’s Arfstrology Sign: We don’t really know, as she was a rescue dog, but we celebrate on March 18, the day we brought her home. Characteristics of Pisces: Sensitive & Humane
Honey’s Friends in her Hood: Red, Barkley, Daisy, Levi and Toto.
Stan Friedman is the President and Chief Operating Officer of ACI Franchising, LLC, the franchisor of an emerging franchising concept called RetroTax™. Their company is a B2B concept that specializes in the identification and administration of Federal employment tax credits, for businesses of all sizes. No matter how busy Stan is with work or other obligations Honey and her needs come first.
The Friedman family is devoted to the care and well being of Honey.
W.P.: Do you think the health and the wellness trends are trickling down to pets? If so, tell us how?
S.F.: Healthy diets and exercise are as important to Honey as they are to us. Honey eats Blue Buffalo products, which are gluten free and LOVES the food and treats. She also drinks purified water and loves long walks around the neighborhood. Honey would pace me mile for mile on a treadmill, if I’d only buy her one of her own.
Photo credits: © Friedman Family