Wag Reflex

Meet the BISSELL Family Pets

Just like any other member of the family, we are all very proud of our pets. Every pet has its own quirky behaviors and unique personality traits, and we love to show them off.

At BISSELL, we’re proud to announce that a new line of products will soon feature our employees’ family pets on the packaging. Being the proud pet parents that we are, we’d like to introduce you to a few of these members of our furry family.

Meet Lucky, a Siamese/Tabby blend who was rescued by Audrey (PC Technical Support Specialist) in a mall parking lot during an eventful shopping trip 8 years ago. The cat scurried right into Audrey’s arms and the two have been best friends since. The furry cat now feels right at home with Audrey as he loves to talk about his day, just hang out, and cuddle up as Audrey’s pillow when watching TV.

While Lucky may prefer to take it easy, Phelps is an outgoing feline who wasn’t at all camera shy for his BISSELL photo shoot. Beth (PR and Marketing Events Manager) and Adam (Sales Manager) adopted Phelps from the Humane Society after he was rescued from a river. Because he survived such a difficult swim the name Phelps seemed to fit perfectly! Oddly, he now loves water and comes running when he hears the faucet.

Next, we’d like to introduce Dexter, a Bull Mastiff Mix adopted by Kristin (Consumer Services Assistant) at just 2 weeks old. Without a mom, Kristen wasn’t sure Dexter would make it. Now he is almost 3 years old and full of life and slobber. Dexter loves to chew on rawhides and play Frisbee. He also loves a good TV show and will sit still for 20 minutes to tune in.

Like Lucky, Phelps and Dexter, our four-legged friends can be quite the characters. But most pet parents would agree -- that’s why we love them! More employees’ personal pet stories are available at www.bissell.com.

--BISSELL Clean Team
---------------------
BISSELL supports pet charities across the country and regularly contributes to Wag Reflex.

Kira the Australian Cattle Dog

Kira is a very bright 8-week-old Australian Cattle Dog. She's my wife's newest client and reportedly already knows "come", "sit", and "stay".

--Spanno

To Protect, Serve, and Love

Introduction: Meet one of America's finest.

Name: K-9 Dunna

Date of Birth: 1/3/99

Country of Origin: Rinchnach, Germany 

Breed: German Shepherd

Job description: Patrol Dog (Narcotics, Tracking, Building Search, Handler Protection)

Career highlights:

• 2002--Tracked down 2 male subjects after they broke into a marina
• 2002--During a routine traffic stop: Located plastic film canister wrapped with tape under a seat containing several packets of Crystal Meth, street value $500-800
• 2003--Located 22.3 pounds of Marijuana at a home just 3 houses from an elementary school

Community service: Attendance and demonstrations at many events and fund raisers for organizations such as: Humane society, Elementary schools, 4-H club, Union city rotary club, Branch county career center criminal justice program, Coldwarter Kiwanis club, Girl scouts Wal-mart, Sturgis Kennel club. Dunna also participates in local parades…in full uniform.

Hobbies: Going for walks

Favorite Toy: Tennis Ball

Date retired: August 28, 2008

Current Status: Retired, Dunna was diagnosed with cancer September of 2008 and is currently undergoing treatments for her cancer. After fighting crime for years, making the world as little bit safer, she is now fighting her own battle. Dunna’s treatment to date has been made possible with the dedication of her loving owners and generous contributions made to her ‘health fund’ by some of the organizations she has helped in the past, as well as some very kind donations by others touched by her story.  For more information on Dunna or to add your support, Dunna’s owners can be contacted at k9dunna@yahoo.com. Dunna is a truly remarkable dog.

--Dr. Hamilton
---------------------
Dr. Hamilton is an oncology resident at Michigan State's Animal Cancer Care Clinic and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.

Disclaimer Regarding Veterinary Information   

Remembering Rosie

[Editor's note--This is the heartwarming story about a very special dog named Rosie and her chance encounter with a deer. It was sent in by her mom, Collene. Rosie passed away in February at the age of 12.]

We adopted Rosie from Lab rescue when she was a few months old. Rosie was the single best dog in the history of dogs. That's unequivocal. What is still open for debate is whether Rosie was the best mammal that was ever on the planet. We think she was but there are several hundred thousand years worth of mammals and we didn't know them all. But clearly Rosie ranked above all the people and may have been the standard against which every living thing is measured.
 
Rosie's encounter with the deer was much like her encounter with everyone. Within seconds she made a new friend. This deer was a friend Rosie made on the Steerhead Ranch, right at the base of the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming. They met one day by chance one summer in front of the main ranch house--clearly it was not hunting season. Rosie was outside looking for varmints to chase and the deer must have wandered down from the creek, where they would gather during the day. As miracles go, I glanced out the window and happened to have my camera. They were having such fun, they did not seem to notice my presence as I quietly recorded their encounter. We are pretty sure the deer went home and told her friends about Rosie because late each summer as the deer migrate across the alfalfa fields between the ranch and the Big Horn Mountains, they always pause and look toward the ranch house for their friend.

 

Last month Rosie had to go meet up with some of her relatives in Dog Heaven and we spread her ashes and had a memorial service. For her twelve years on earth, she filled the hearts of all she met with her love, loyalty and pure joy of life. We miss her.

You can see more of Rosie's deer encounter here.

Readers' Pets: SkippyJon the "Chu-weenie"

Introduction: Meet SkippyJon. He thinks he rules the earth!  Woe to anyone who walks through our door! He growls like a miniature chain saw! SkippyJon is the product of a tempestuous love affair between a Daschund and a Chihuahua.

Home: Gulf Coast, Texas

Age: 2 years.

Breed: ...ahem...Chu-weenie. Dad is a noble Daschund, Mum is a fiesty little Chihuahua.

Personality: With kids and family, SkippyJon is your basic lapdog. He just sits and looks pretty. Around company he starts showing off, growling and sparring with his father, Fritz the Daschund.

Likes: Bits of apple, his favorite blanky, a little plaid sweater he adores, and an old, stuffed Kermit the Frog he has slept with since he was born.

Dislikes: Our cat, Lolly. When she mistakenly wanders near his bowl...oh the carnage that ensues! SkippyJon also detests being bathed, which requires the removal of his beloved sweater!

Favorite Toy: His sister Caith's ear!  She will only put up with so much though!

Favorite Food: Apples, Cheerios and oatmeal!

Trivia: SkippyJon was born 3 weeks premature with transparent skin and was unable to grasp a bottle. We fed him around the clock, each hour, by dropper until he was a few weeks old and could drink from a nurser. He was smaller than the palm of your hand! SkippyJon is now 2 and a monster! He is fierce and will attack anyone who comes on his turf!  He was recently neutered and is a bit depressed about it but doing excellently. SkippyJon proved to us that a little effort is worth it! We missed a lot of sleep getting him to the point where he was self-sufficient and could eat on his own and we have an amazing buddy in return!  **Small efforts sometimes yield great things**

---------------------
If you'd like your pet featured on Wag Reflex, email us (wagreflex@amazon.com) with the bolded topics and a 500-pixel-wide JPEG of your pet.

Readers' Pets: Sadie the Golden Retriever

Introduction: Meet Sadie, my goofy, fun-loving Golden girl. She came to me when she was 6 weeks old. As my first dog, she's taught me so much about loving a dog - and about being a true companion and a true soul mate. A complete party animal, she is always game for a romping good time with a tennis ball or a stuffie any time day or night!
 
Home: Austin, Texas
 
Age: 7 years
 
Breed: Golden Retriever
 
Personality: Sadie is a happy-go-lucky dog who loves EVERYONE. She is a quick learner and adores any training we do - it's just another game! Sadie is a fairly easy dog, and is hyper-sensitive to people and their moods and any stressful situation that might arise with them. She is attentive to me, a blind woman, and my need for a little more help when it's hard to see at night. For a dog who is not trained as a service dog, she fills those shoes pretty well.
 
Likes: Cuddling, playing fetch, long walks, toys that squeak, food, food, and oh yeah - food! Did I mention she likes food?
 
Dislikes: Umbrellas, swimming, vacuum cleaners
 
Favorite Toy: Tennis balls
 
Favorite Foods: Some of her MANY favorites are cheese, peanut butter, chicken, hot dogs, and Pepperidge Farm goldfish
 
Trivia: For some reason, Sadie has never been keen on jumping up on the furniture. I have to invite her up on the bed or couch - otherwise, she'd rather sleep on the carpet, thankyouverymuch. As for having a blanket on her when it's cold at night? That is rather undignified for her, what with her fur coat, she says!

If you'd like your pet featured on Wag Reflex, email us (wagreflex@amazon.com) with the bolded topics and a 500-pixel-wide JPEG of your pet.

Readers' Pets: Moose the Chocolate Lab

Introduction: This is Moose, he's a fun loving sweetheart of a guy. Moose has been with me since he was 8 weeks old. He got his name originally how big he was but his personality fits perfectly. A big goofy akward lovable mush. I don't think Moose has ever met someone he doesn't like as long as they scratch his butt or throw a ball.
 
Home: Nebraska
 
Age: 5 1/2
 
Breed: Chocolate Lab
 
Personality: Moose is the definition of happy-go-lucky. He lives to make you smile or laugh. If he does something to make you laugh he'll keep it up to keep you laughing. For all that we've been through together he's been bomb proof. Never a problem or a bad adjustment. He's a definate momma's boy and loves to cuddle on the couch or on the bed. He's happy out running in the fields, playing in the ponds or just hanging around home taking naps as long as he's got his spot next to mom.
 
Likes: Water, water, water if it's a pond, lake, pool or puddle he's there and trying to get in it. Nothing is more fun than being in the water unless there's soap involved. His grandpa, one of his favorite people to play with.
 
Favorite Toy: The jolly ball was a gift sent from God himself in Moose's eyes. He has lots of toys he enjoys playing with but none of them compare to the jolly ball.
 
Favorite Food: This is Moose's only fault his tummy gets the best of him once in a while. I don't think he's got a favorite food, just any food he can get his mouth around when you're not paying attention.
 
Trivia: Moose is ticklish and his favorite game is tickle tickle where he lays on his back with a toy in his mouth grinning and squirming while you tickle his belly and yell tickle tickle tickle!

--Spanno
---------------------
If you'd like your pet featured on Wag Reflex, email us (wagreflex@amazon.com) with the bolded topics and a 500-pixel-wide JPEG of your pet.

Readers' Pets: Bella the Shepherd Mix

Introduction:Say hello! to Bella dog. Also called 'Bellaboo dixie daisy dog of the wild frontier'. She is probably 4 years old, 60lbs and from the Animal Protective League in Cleveland, Ohio. Bella has introduced this first time dog owner to the joys of dogs! She has opened my heart, mind and even home - together we've become 'foster parents' to many puppies from the APL in need of temporary homes. Bella was originally from and Indiana shelter where she was turned in with a litter of puppies and then eventually transfered all the way to Cleveland. When I got her the puppies were gone and yet she was smiling and ready to love.

Home: Now it's Bar Harbor, ME. Part polar bear Bella can't wait for the snow!

Age: 4 years (?)

Breed: Mixed. Possibly German Shepherd, Greyhound, Retriever (?)

Personality:Bella is mellow and yet can run faster than your average cheetah outside. Thus we believed the APL when they said 'greyhound'. She loves to play fetch and would retrieve tennis balls and sticks all day - at least until a squirrel shows up and then it's all out pointer - she stalks silently and then will raise a paw and point in the targeted area. She once stole three sticks of butter off the counter to which she threw up (Thank God) although it was on the bedroom rug.

Likes:She has two best buddies--Colby the mutt and Percy the purebred. Also, did I mention butter? However, she mostly likes chasing and pointing out squirrels. Chasing cats comes close when she's being really bad. Lastly, she loves to sleep curled up at my side on the couch and I must say that is my favorite thing ever.

Dislikes: The vacuum cleaner, large trucks, gun shots (or of the similar) and small screaming children.

Favorite Toy:Dirty duck, little green man, the crazy ball on a rope (that hits her face when she wails it around - go figure?), the noisy hedge hog and the old scoobie doubie doo slipper.

Favorite Food: Turkey! Bacon! Squirrel!

Trivia:Bellaboo (as I call her) inspired me to fulfill a personal dream and to write Children's books. I took my art degree and finally put it to good use in the marketplace! Hoping to pay off my MFA bill I started Bellaboo Books and now have two books on Amazon. I am currently working on my third book 'The Porch Dream'.... and the best trivia of all is that I went back three times to visit Bella at the Animal Protective League and she was there each time. I'd like to think that she and I were meant for each other. Check out Bella in her two books at: www.bellaboobooks.com.

--Spanno
---------------------
If you'd like your pet featured on Wag Reflex, email us (wagreflex@amazon.com) with the bolded topics and a 500-pixel-wide JPEG of your pet.

Readers' Pets: Voodoo the Llewellin Setter

Introduction: Meet Voodoo, our rocketdog. His first home didn't work out, so he came to stay with us for a few days...2 years ago. If he had a catch phrase, it would be "Woohoo! Let's go!".
It's hard to remain grumpy when you're around such a fun-loving, happy guy.

Home: northern West Virginia

Age: 2 1/2

Breed: Llewellin setter

Personality: Cheerful, funny and completely devoted. He's not an easy dog--he has a 5 second attention span and he's extremely active. His total joy and sweet nature make the extra training effort so worthwhile. Voo is willing to go anywhere and try anything, at any hour. He loves to cuddle, and curls all 57 pounds into teeny ball on my lap. He gets accused of being a Mama's Boy. He loves to point game from the backseat of our car.

Likes: He's a water dog, loves swimming and dock diving. Drive-through windows (he views them as treat dispensers). The UPS guy, having his ears brushed and being dried with a hair dryer. Hiking the long trail in our state park.

Dislikes: Seeing me leave with hiking shoes on, moths and butterflies.

Favorite Toy: Kong Water Wubba and Kong Snugga Wubba

Favorite Food: Pizza

Trivia: Voodoo's name originated from the comment, "Wow, that puppy worked some serious voodoo on you..". I wanted an adult dog for our next companion, not a puppy. Voodoo ended up being the perfect fit in our household.

--Spanno
---------------------
If you'd like your pet featured on Wag Reflex, email us (wagreflex@amazon.com) with the bolded topics and a 500-pixel-wide JPEG of your pet.

Readers' Pets: Archie and Mazik

Introduction: Archie (on left) brings the party wherever he goes. Mazik (right) is his goofy uncle, whose name means “maker of mischief. Together: Double trouble.

Home: Seattle, WA (Archie); Salt Lake City, UT (Mazik)

Age: 1 year and 10 years.

Breed: Toy poodle and toy poodle/terrier mix.

Personality: Archie loves people and carrying around weird objects in his mouth. Mazik likes to shred newspaper and snub other dogs.

Likes: Archie enjoys tearing around the yard with a stick in his mouth and making friends at Greenlake. Mazik favors lounging in his recliner and biting the mailman.

Dislikes: The brush.

Favorite Toy: Archie: Anything he’s not supposed to get his mouth on, especially shoes. Mazik: Newspaper.

Favorite Food: Peanut butter and forbidden chocolate.

Trivia: Archie covers his eyes with his paws when you blow in his face. Mazik likes to stick his nose under the gate to smell who’s coming. They have never had a poodle cut or been dyed pink.

--Spanno
---------------------
If you'd like your pet featured on Wag Reflex, email us (wagreflex@amazon.com) with the bolded topics and a 500-pixel-wide JPEG of your pet.