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| Name: |
Kirby
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Age: |
Ten years old
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| Gender: |
Male |
Breed: |
Schnauzer/Shih Tzu
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| Home: |
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA |
Kirby is special because he's always smiling! His Shih-Tzu and Schnauzer heritage give him unique coloring and appearance, but it's his demeanor that people always remember. For ten years his smile has brought joy to everyone he meets! He's snuggly, loves cheese and long walks. He's a mischief-making, nap-taking, adventure-seeking dog with a heart of gold.
Kirby is ten years old, but he still has the same peppy and jaunty stride he did as a puppy. Fortunately, he's learned a few better habits in all that time. When my parents first adopted him from the pound, he quickly acquired the nickname "Kirbinator" because he chewed on everything. Books, dining room chairs, stair spokes, carpets - he left his mark on every single part of the house! He also has an inexhaustible appetite. His favorite foods are cheeses, meats, and ice cream, but he'll try anything once.
For the first nine years of his life, he lived in a big house in the woods with a large fenced in yard. He spent hours every day guarding us against the squirrels, birds, and also the pool vacuum. Guarding meant chasing and barking at them for hours. Despite our repeated pleas to him that the pool vacuum was not a monster, Kirby never warmed to it (and its habit of spontaneously spitting water into the air) and once, in a fit of pique, barked and growled so much he accidentally fell into the pool. His habit of watching the squirrels grew on us, though. Over the years, my father had put in several bird feeders so he could watch the hummingbirds and purple martins. The squirrels also liked the birdseed and would climb the poles to take some. Kirby took great umbrage about this and would race off to defend the feeders. We spent many holidays happily watching him watch for squirrels. To this day if someone says, "Squirrel" he will tear off like a bolt of lightning.
Despite being only 20 pounds, Kirby is an accomplished bed-hog. Another nickname for him is Paperweight. Once, he shared a bed with my grandmother and every time she rolled a little in one direction, he moved with her - until she ended up on the floor because he had successfully edged her out! Not only does Kirby hog the bed, he considers it his. When he is given certain types of dog treats (Greenies) he tries to hide them in the bed. He also snores and occasionally woofs in his sleep. Still, on a cold night, his snores are as endearing as his snuggles!
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