“Does your dog have a dog philosophy?” WAGGLEVIEW with Colleen Mrowka, PT,DPT

Please read the Waggleview below to find out about this remarkable woman leader and her dog.

Woof on!

The Dog Owner: Colleen Mrowka, PT, DPT, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Entrepreneur.  Founded Mrowka Physical Therapy in Cheshire CT in 1993. www.mrowkaphysicaltherapy.com

Dog type and Name: Jack, –100% pure dog, engineered with Beagle, Labrador, and Doberman genes. Likes to be called “Jack, the dog,” so as not to be mistaken as a human.

Q: Why did you choose this dog?

C:  I did not choose him. He was chosen for us and gifted to us. Our beloved dog, Kelsey, had crossed the rainbow bridge a few years before and I was still having difficulty thinking about getting another dog. But I saw his picture on petfinder.com and he stole my heart. He looked different from our Kelsey (we didn’t want our next dog to have to compete with her memories), and we were thrilled when we were approved for his adoption. But when this little pup was presented to us, he was the spitting image of our Kelsey! We realized then that Kelsey sent this little doggie to us. To this day we still refer to Jack as “Kelsey’s pup.”

Q: Do you talk to your dog? And if so what do you talk about?

C: I talk to Jack all day every day. I talk to him about weather, the news, my kids, and our work. Mostly I tell him how wonderful he is, and how much I love him.

Q: If he could talk to you, what would he say?

C: He does talk to me all the time; I can see his thoughts in his deep golden eyes.  He tells me that I work too hard, worry too much, and don’t play enough.  Other times he simply gazes at me and conveys his love.

Q: If your dog had a job or career what would he be doing?

C: Jack does have a career. He works along side me every day at our physical therapy clinic. He greets our clients with a happy wiggle and/or a compassionate nuzzle, brings them into their treatment rooms, and sits along side them during their treatments. He gives them kisses of encouragement, or simply rests his head on their lap in efforts to ease their pain. Okay, so sometimes he pokes his nose into their ears too, but he swears they love it!!  If he had to choose a different career, Jack would probably be a dentist. He loves to clean other dogs’ teeth.

Q: What lesson in life has your dog taught you?

C: To show those you care about how much you care. Never hold back expressions of love for any reason, no matter how stressed, harried, or angry one is. Jack tells us he loves us every single day. He tells us with his happy wiggles, thumping tail, and love-struck gazes. He will never regret that he “should have said I Love You more, or that he didn’t show kindness. He might, however, regret that he didn’t steal more ham when he had the opportunity…

Q: How does your dog inspire you?

C: He is a canine exemplification of one of my favorite psalms, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs…It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Q: Where is your dog’s favorite place to go with you?

C: By my side, anywhere, anytime. But he especially loves loves loves to go on a walk or run with me, especially at the beach or in the snow.

Q: Who or what does your dog find the most interesting?

C: Babies. Jack has a special attraction to babies, their smell, and their squeaks. He tries so hard to sit still next to them, but he wiggles himself closer and closer, and then has to get even closer. He’s been pet (with the not-so-gentle touch of a one-year old), had his jowls stretched over his ears, been sat on, and had food taken out of his mouth. He merely wiggles and wags his tail through it all.

Q: What is the most annoying thing other dog owners do?

C: Assume their dogs are so well behaved that they needs no boundaries. Dogs need to be protected so they don’t run into traffic, or jump on an unsuspecting passerby. Dogs should be kept safe outdoors, on a leash, when not in a safely contained (fenced) area.

Q: What does being a responsible dog owner mean to you?

C: Taking care of my dog to keep him happy, healthy, and well. That means feeding him appropriately, not allowing him to become overweight (obesity is a major contributor to a shortened lifespan,) engaging him in daily exercise, keeping regular veterinary visits, and providing him as much love as possible. A dog is not a possession; he/she is a loving caring being, and deserves to be taken care of as well as we would care for ourselves or any other family member.

Q: Do you ever dress up your dog?

C: I am initially inclined to answer “no,” but I realize that I actually have. Jack has boots to wear on icy, or too-hot pavement, because his pads are very sensitive. Jack generally wears only his collar and Saint Francis medal. However, he has acquiesced to be the spokes-dog and model for Mrowka Physical Therapy. He let us dress him in a johnny-coat and bandages for a get-well card photo shoot, and he donned a hat and scarf to send smiles to a friend to ease a particularly stressful day.

Q: How has your dog changed your life?

C:  He’s been glue for our family. Jack is adamantly instrumental in our spending time together, just se we can all be equal recipients of his love. Jack is not stingy with his love for each of us, and he, in turn, basks in our love. He has this knack of scooching in between us so that he can touch each of us at the same time. He’ll rest his head on me, drape one or both front paws over my son’s leg, touch my daughter with another paw, and align his behind next to my husband!

Q: Does your dog have a philosophy of life?

C: He has a few, I think: When in doubt, wiggle or wag, Sleep often and stretch whenever you get up, and Never bite when a bark will do.

C: I love my dog because he is the personification of good, or I guess I should say  “canine-ification of good.” He makes no judgments, means no harm, and is ever patient. His unconditional love is a constant, never diminished. He is the good in every day.

 

WAGGLEVIEWS: These interviews are focused on woman leaders (and some future leaders) in business, the community, or at home. My hope in doing this is to present remarkable and respected women in their community with their beloved pets. Who can resist reading about dogs and what these women do? This is a platform for women to display their talents; their own business, a new book, a deeply loved passion for a charity or their own job. It also shows their love for their dog!

Thank you Colleen  for taking the time to participate in the Waggleview.

Please comment below. Does your dog have a dog philosophy? 

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