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.
Steve Streiff, retired assistant engineering supervisor for the city of Monroe, and his wife, Sharon, a retired nurse, talk about their best friend Katie, a 6-year-old sheltie.
The couple got Katie over three years ago from a rescue near Racine where she had been found abandoned along a bike trail. The Streiffs have always had dogs throughout their 49 years of marriage. After their two Pomeranians died, they drove to Racine to meet Katie and felt a connection immediately.
"She sat by my feet, and that's all it took," Sharon said.
The couple got Katie over three years ago from a rescue near Racine where she had been found abandoned along a bike trail. The Streiffs have always had dogs throughout their 49 years of marriage. After their two Pomeranians died, they drove to Racine to meet Katie and felt a connection immediately.
"She sat by my feet, and that's all it took," Sharon said.
Describe Katie's personality.
She's a very nice, wonderful dog. When we're out walking, she'll just sit down and wait if I stop to talk to someone. She's pretty patient. She has some manners. She won't get in the car or on the furniture unless you invite her. She likes to snuggle with Sharon. She likes to be in charge.
What do you and Katie like to do
together?
She's a lot of company. She likes to go in the truck. She'll jump in if I go to the store and she just stays in the back and doesn't bark at anyone or anything. She loves to go out in the snow and bury her nose in it. We like to camp and go for walks. She likes to play Frisbee in the back yard. She'd chase it all day if she could. She also would like to chase squirrels, but she doesn't seem to care about rabbits.
What has it been like having Katie in your life?
This is the way we think about it. We lost our 29-year-old daughter and then our two Pomeranians passed away. We figured Katie was an angel sent to us by our daughter, Elizabeth. She was already trained, and she listens to us. She'll cling to us, especially if we've been gone. She'll make sure our suitcase is empty. She's just a wonderful companion. I don't think she's more her dog or my dog.
She's a very nice, wonderful dog. When we're out walking, she'll just sit down and wait if I stop to talk to someone. She's pretty patient. She has some manners. She won't get in the car or on the furniture unless you invite her. She likes to snuggle with Sharon. She likes to be in charge.
What do you and Katie like to do
together?
She's a lot of company. She likes to go in the truck. She'll jump in if I go to the store and she just stays in the back and doesn't bark at anyone or anything. She loves to go out in the snow and bury her nose in it. We like to camp and go for walks. She likes to play Frisbee in the back yard. She'd chase it all day if she could. She also would like to chase squirrels, but she doesn't seem to care about rabbits.
What has it been like having Katie in your life?
This is the way we think about it. We lost our 29-year-old daughter and then our two Pomeranians passed away. We figured Katie was an angel sent to us by our daughter, Elizabeth. She was already trained, and she listens to us. She'll cling to us, especially if we've been gone. She'll make sure our suitcase is empty. She's just a wonderful companion. I don't think she's more her dog or my dog.