Best Friends
Best Friends is a weekly feature designed to highlight a local resident and his or her pets. To suggest someone for the series, contact Shari Rampenthal, assistant editor, at srampenthal@themonroetimes.com.
John Baumann, president and CEO of Colony Brands, talks about his best friends, Gracie, a 10-year-old beagle, Stella, a 9-year-old Boston bulldog and blue heeler mix, and Brooks, a 4-year-old dachshund.
Baumann got Gracie as a puppy from the Green County Humane Society and fell in love with her as soon as he met her. He also got Stella when she was about 10 months old from the humane society after she had been roaming the streets in Lafayette County.
Brooks is the first dog Baumann got that wasn't a rescue and came from a breeder in Kentucky. He got Brooks after his other dachshund, who was a special needs dog, died. Because of his affection for dachshunds, Baumann is involved with Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue, an organization that finds homes for dachshunds.
- Marissa Weiher
Describe your dogs' personalities.
Gracie is a high personality dog. She's very curious, and she talks all the time. She likes to bark. I never have to wonder what she wants. It's either food or attention or a good long walk. The other dogs will sometimes lick her ears to try to keep her calm.
Stella, she's old, and because of her underbite people tend to think she's an aggressive dog. But she's really a nice dog. Since she was a street dog I think it makes her appreciate the home environment even more. She's very affectionate.
Brooks has the personality of a butterfly. He likes to nip at the other dogs to get them to play with him.
What do you like to do together?
I take them on walks or to the country and let them run free. They love the yard and like barking at the golfers and mostly just love being outside. They're pals. They love to chase each other around and sometimes I rile them up. I find them a lot of fun to play with.
What has it been like having them in your life?
I've got best friends every day. It's great to come home after what can be a long day at work and be greeted by pure energy and joy. It just transforms my day.
Baumann got Gracie as a puppy from the Green County Humane Society and fell in love with her as soon as he met her. He also got Stella when she was about 10 months old from the humane society after she had been roaming the streets in Lafayette County.
Brooks is the first dog Baumann got that wasn't a rescue and came from a breeder in Kentucky. He got Brooks after his other dachshund, who was a special needs dog, died. Because of his affection for dachshunds, Baumann is involved with Coast to Coast Dachshund Rescue, an organization that finds homes for dachshunds.
- Marissa Weiher
Describe your dogs' personalities.
Gracie is a high personality dog. She's very curious, and she talks all the time. She likes to bark. I never have to wonder what she wants. It's either food or attention or a good long walk. The other dogs will sometimes lick her ears to try to keep her calm.
Stella, she's old, and because of her underbite people tend to think she's an aggressive dog. But she's really a nice dog. Since she was a street dog I think it makes her appreciate the home environment even more. She's very affectionate.
Brooks has the personality of a butterfly. He likes to nip at the other dogs to get them to play with him.
What do you like to do together?
I take them on walks or to the country and let them run free. They love the yard and like barking at the golfers and mostly just love being outside. They're pals. They love to chase each other around and sometimes I rile them up. I find them a lot of fun to play with.
What has it been like having them in your life?
I've got best friends every day. It's great to come home after what can be a long day at work and be greeted by pure energy and joy. It just transforms my day.