Pet of the week: Toby is a chewer
Tue, 01/18/2011
Pamela George got her dog Toby, on Craigslist. "There was a gentleman who wasn't able to care for him anymore (…) so I got him and he's been wonderful for me. Toby has been part of her household for the last six months and is now one year old. He's a mixed breed known as a "PomChi", a combination of Pomeranian and Chihuahua.
"I had never heard of that breed when I found him but since then I've heard of more Pomchi's in West Seattle," George said.
"He likes to chew," she said, " and he's made a fort or a camp underneath my bed, and he likes to collect things and take them under the bed. If we're missing anything we go look and there it is."
Toby has a lot of toys, mostly of the chewing variety, though on occasion he will chew whatever he gets his mouth on. George's granddaughter Amiyah Hogue had a baby doll and it came with a baby bottle. "He found it and chewed up all the nipples," George said laughing," so I had to promise to find her another baby bottle for her doll (…) I actually think he likes the people toys better than his own."
Toby will eat just about anything, but lives on dry food and loves bones for treats with a "little bit of people food now and then."
Toby's only dog friend is George's older dog "Honey" who is 16 years old. She's also a mixed breed, a "Terry-Poo."
"They are good companions for one another and (…) he keeps her younger."
Toby sleeps on the bed and likes to cuddle on the pillow, but will move to the foot of the bed to sleep.
George got Toby's jacket at Petco in the West Seattle Junction and "He's one of the few dogs that likes to wear his clothes. He doesn't like to be cold. I have another coat for him when it's really cold that's almost like a parka with a hood and fur."
Amiyah loves Toby of course and agreed on Toby's most persistent habit. "He will chew on anything he finds and just bring it under the bed," and she added, "When he walks he kind of skips because his back leg is, like he got hit or something."
George added, "I think he's truly creative with his other three legs, because he has the one bad leg. He will hop up the stairs. When it's raining or cold on the ground he won't put that fourth leg down. So he will skip on three legs when it's wet on the ground."
How to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week:
Want to nominate your pet for Pet of the Week? Stop by the VCA West Seattle Animal Hospital at 5261 California Ave. S.W. and just ask for a form. A nomination is not a guarantee of appearance and your name and photo may appear in our newspaper and online.
Photos may or may not be used and our "Pet Reporter" may be in touch with you to arrange to take a photo. Pets nominated will be chosen on the basis of uniqueness of the pet and the quality of the story and information submitted