July 30, 2018 at 5:10 p.m.
Looking back: Pets add homey touch at work
Looking back: Pets add homey touch at work
By Tamas Houlihan-
If you've ever doubted the old adage that a dog is man's best friend, a pair of dogs in Rhinelander will convince you beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Tiny, the dog of June Chapman, manager of the Kickapoo Gas Station on Lincoln Street, and Austin, the dog of Tom Cleary, owner of the Claridge Motor Inn on Stevens Street, are two such examples.
Unfortunately, Tiny is no longer with us. She had to be put to sleep on Oct. 6 as she was diagnosed as having colitis. But for the 6 1/2 years prior to that date, the poodle-schnauzer mix was the beloved pet of virtually all who came to the Kickapoo station to get some gasoline.
"She liked to sit and watch in the window for customers," said Chapman. "When they came into the store to pay for their gas, she'd jump into their arms whether they wanted her to or not. She never growled or snapped at anyone - she just loved people."
Tiny stayed at the Kickapoo station 365 days a year, from the time she was five weeks old. She became very popular with regular customers of the business.
"Tourists from all over the country would stop in each year just to see Tiny," said Chapman. "Some customers even came more to see her than they did to get gas. And Tiny remembered people. She recognized cars, and she'd jump right up on people she knew. People said she was more like a human than a dog."
Chapman said she liked to take Tiny to the home for the elderly in Crandon but after a few hours of playing with the residents, they didn't want to give her back. "I finally couldn't take her there anymore because the people there grew too attached to her," she said.
It seems that everyone who knew Tiny became enamored with the dog.
"One man came to see her just this week and he broke down crying when he heard she was dead," said Chapman. "I don't know how I"m going to tell all the people who don't know yet."
But the story doesn't end entirely on a negative note, as Chapman now has a new puppy, a 2 1/2-month-old miniature toy poodle named Pepe.
"Pepe is a tiny little puppy who we love, but there will never be another dog like Tiny. Tiny was a lover who lived on love and affection and we'll always dearly miss her."
Across town is another lovable dog who has made friends with many of the patrons of the Claridge Motor Inn.
"He's the hotel dog," said Cleary, referring to his yellow Lab, Austin. "He knows just about everyone who comes there, and everyone knows him loves him. Most people want to know where he is when they come here. He's very, very popular. He loves children and enjoys playing with them. He's very docile, and has never bitten anyone."
Austin is also a very intelligent dog, and is eager to demonstrate that fact.
"Austin will get just about anything I tell him to for me," Cleary said. "If I say 'get my hat,' he'll run up the stairs to my room and come running right back with it. The same goes for my shoes, my glasses, the newspaper, and whatever else I train him for."
Although Cleary bought him for hunting purposes, Austin has turned out to be a wonderful pet.
"He's a good retriever, but because he's so laidback and friendly he makes very good company," said Cleary. "He loves to go for walks. He's very good around town - he's not a roamer and he's very good at interactions.
"He also loves the water," Cleary added. "He'll play by himself all day in the water, just swimming and diving. I also do a lot of flying and Austin likes to fly in airplanes."
If you ask anyone at the hotel, another one of Austin's favorite activities is eating.
"He really likes to get his dog biscuit from the front desk every morning," said Cleary. "And we have a woman who lives here who enjoys giving him a treat every day on the noon hour." (Cleary added that Austin enjoys getting the treat as well.)
While there are certainly other examples of highly reputable dogs in the city, Rhinelander can be proud to be the home of Tiny and Austin.
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