Judy Wanamaker got her dog Maggie, a Schnauzer (whose birth name is Charisma Southern Magnolia), from a breeder called the Charisma Kennels in Silver Springs, Maryland. Wanamaker had a previous standard Schnauzer that passed away two years ago. She reached out to that breeder, who had moved to Florida, but did happen to have a dog who had a litter of pups. Wanamaker flew to Florida to pick her up. That was two years ago.

Maggie is 35 lbs, has a Salt and Pepper coat and eats Canidae dog food from her favorite store, Pet Elements.
"That's Maggie's store. When I tell her we're going to Maggie's store she runs and gets her leash and practically drags me all the way down here," Wanamaker said, "They all spoil her rotten."

Her treat of choice there is barbecue marrow bones.

Maggie loves to walk, and does have a favorite route. "Every once in a while I will let her do it on the weekend. We come out of the alley on s.w. Holly, she crosses the street and goes behind the alley, behind McDonald's, goes over to the Thriftway, stands in the door and waits for it to open and she looks at everybody inside. Then we go down around to the other door, then we go over to the Starbucks and open the door there. That's Maggie's walk."

Another favored destination, as it is for so many is the Westcrest Dog Park, "She likes to be chased by the other dogs. The last time we were there no dogs would chase her so, when someone would throw a ball she would get it before them, grab the ball and run back with it so they would chase her."

Maggie and Wanamaker eat dinner at the same time but after dinner, Maggie gets a bowl of ice, "and she plays ice hockey with it. Then she will eat it and throw it in the air."

"Last night I had a spaghetti squash, that's been sitting on the counter that I had not eaten so I set it on top of the stairwell so I'd remember to take it out for recycling," said Wanamaker, "and she thought it was like a football, and started carrying it around the house."

Maggie is basically a very happy dog. "All the little kids in the neighborhood think her name should be Happy instead of Maggie, because she's such a happy dog (...) she teaches me joy."

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.

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