November 2024

This series is dedicated to helping our community get to know the dedicated and selfless human beings that keep Magnificent Mutts Rescue running.

This month we feature Dennis and Carol, a dynamic husband and wife duo who give their time to helping our Mutts!  For the last three years they have been volunteering and fostering as part of our Magnificent Mutts team. Always willing to help out by transporting dogs to and from the vet when other fosters can’t, or helping handle dogs at our events we couldn’t do our daily work without them! Learn more about them here:

1) How long have you been with Magnificent Mutts?   We have been fostering dogs for Magmutts for about 3 years. We previously owned 2 dogs which we lost within 9 days of each other. Carol then needed knee surgery and after recovering decided she needed a dog in her life. We adopted our current dog, Zeus, from CACC. He is an American bulldog mix who loves all people and dogs. Due to his petite 94 pound body he very often overpowers smaller kids trying to play with them. He is truly a gentle giant.

2) As a volunteer, what do you do for MM? We foster dogs and puppies as needed. We transport them to and from events and veterinarian visits. We try to socialize them and begin teaching basic commands, crate training, house training, leash training, and how to navigate a dog door. We are willing to help as needed.

3) What is your favorite, or most memorable MM experience or story? Most memorable is the warm feeling we get whenever our foster find a home and we can go on to help another.

4) Do you have a favorite dog breed or dog type? While all breeds are “Magnificent Mutts”, our preferred breeds are spaniel and bully mixes, such as American Bulldog and Cocker Spaniel. We have found them to be good family dogs and are friendly if socialized properly.

5) What are your hobbies or what do you like to do for fun?  We enjoy visiting with family. We try to spend holidays and birthdays with our grandchildren. We attend their athletic games and school events. Carol enjoys gardening and Dennis teaches our grandsons to work on cars and motors

6) Do you own any of your own pets? How have they helped with your work with Magnificent Mutts dogs?   We currently have our American bulldog mix, Zeus. He helps socialize the new fosters. He shares everything with them including food. He helps with training by demonstrating use of the dog door, walking on leash, and playing. He will also allow the smaller dogs to chew on his paws, tail, ears, and jowls without becoming aggressive.

7) They often say opposites attract. Is that true for you two? How so? (Ie… is one a morning person and the other a night person?) We are living proof that opposites attract. Carol likes warm weather, sleeping late, and no spicy foods. Dennis likes cooler weather, getting up early, and spicy foods

8) If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Carol would like going to Hawaii. Dennis is happy with any place quiet in the United States.

9) If you could have dinner with one person – dead or alive – who would it be and why?  We would like having dinner with our younger selves so we might warn ourselves where the world is headed and what is really important in life.

10) Tell us your favorites…
Song, artist, or type of music : We both enjoy country and easy listening music. Favorite artists are Josh Groban, Whitney Houston, Vince Gill, George Strait, Reba McIntyre, Toby Keith.
TV show or movie: Favorite TV show used to be “The Big Bang Theory” but now we enjoy “9-1-1”.
Sport or sports team: Favorite team is the Bears although we do not follow them with any great intensity.