Carol Allen, along with her daughter Sheri Weix, talk about Allen’s best friend Daisy, a 6-ish-year-old Chihuahua mix.
Allen decided she was done with dogs since her children are all grown, but ended up getting Daisy in January 2016 as a companion for her husband Jack while he battled dementia as a recommendation from a doctor.
When Jack died in October 2017, Daisy and Carol were heartbroken and became closer than ever.
Daisy came from Shelter from the Storm, an animal rescue in Madison, which got her from a puppy mill. When Allen brought Daisy home, she had to potty train her and take her to dog training classes.
“This old dog has learned new tricks,” Weix said.
Now Weix says Daisy has Allen pick out a different outfit everyday before she goes to Weix’ store, The Bramble Patch, where Carol works.
Best Friends is a weekly feature designed to highlight a local resident and his or her pets. To suggest someone for the series, contact Marissa Weiher, photographer, at photo@themonroetimes.com.
Describe Daisy’s personality
She’s a guard dog. If anyone new comes around, she barks. She’s very protective. She always lets us know when she wants her breakfast or when it’s time to go for a walk. She also lets me know when she wants to go to bed. She’ll get up and look at me with her body pointed toward the bedroom and when I get up she goes straight to her crate. I put a blanket on her and she sleeps under it all night. She loves attention.
What do you and Daisy like to do together?
She loves going along with us to Chicago to pick up pottery for the store. We take her on vacations with us.
She’ll go on canoe rides. She recently found out she can’t walk on lily pads and doesn’t really like water. She hikes really well. She loves coming into the store when we’re unpacking pottery and jumping in the wrinkle paper. She’s our supervisor here. We usually do paperwork around noon and if we’re not in the office, she’ll come and do her “follow me” prance.
What has it been like having Daisy in your life?
Interesting. She’ll keep you on a schedule. There are days where I think I might like to sleep in, but by 7 a.m. she’s ready to go outside. Life would be boring without her. Sheri: I’m so glad she had her after dad passed away. She talks to her and she fills up her day. When I come visit, she’s always siting next to her. She gets mom up for walks and keeps her active. I think her life would be much emptier without her.
