Pet of the Month: Tamari

Pet Name: Tamari

Pet Owner & CHS Position: Melanie Coleman, Outpatient Therapist at Community Based Services.

Short bio/adoption story: Tamari was handed to me at eight weeks old as my puppy to train in my role as a volunteer puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind. The goal was for her to be a Guide Dog for someone visually impaired. Guide Dogs for the Blind named her–they select a letter for each litter of puppies–she was the "T" litter. Something very interesting is that they do not reuse names of current puppies in training or guides, so the names get a bit interesting. For example, her brother’s name is Taco.

Tamari was in training with me until she was 15 months old. She would go everywhere I went, like restaurants, grocery stores, etc. It was ultimately decided that being a guide dog was not in her future due to her environmental and food allergies. Guide Dogs for the Blind call this a “career change.” I chose to adopt her and have her “career change” be my fur-ever pet. Tamari was the first of eight puppies that I kept. She has since been certified as a therapy dog, and she has provided services at an elementary school.

Age: 3

Breed: Lab Golden Cross

Favorite food: Her favorite food is apples and freeze-dried salmon.

Favorite nap spot: She loves the corner of the couch.

Favorite toy: She loves her oversized gingerbread stuffed toy.

Favorite activity: She loves hiking and swimming.

Naughtiest habit: None. 😊

Biggest pet peeve: She despises camping–she must have her bed and blanket when we go camping.

Funniest memory with your pet: The first time we took her tent camping was last Memorial Day at Custer State Park. When it was time to go to sleep in the tent, she refused to get into it. She wanted to get in the truck to go back home and sleep in her bed. She was so annoyed that we found sleeping outside fun.

What are some of your pet’s nicknames? Tamari, Ari, Mari or Mars.

Fun Fact: She has nine different collars for a bunch of holidays and seasons.