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Deaf since birth, Louisiana Catahoula dog spends workdays at Salinas shop | thecalifornian.com | The Salinas Californian
Mr. Magoo may never win a Best of Show trophy, even though he hangs out in a trophy store.
He is, though, a sure thing for a Mr. Congeniality award.
The dog, fast becoming one of Oldtown Salinas' great characters, is a 2-year-old, 75-pound, mostly deaf Louisiana Catahoula.
To meet him, stop by Valley Trophies & Detectors, 256 Main St. He goes there daily with his owner, Kurt Dillard, who also runs the business.
"He's friendly, and the customers really like him," Dillard said.
Mr. Magoo wiggles his pink and black nose. He wags his long tail.
When a patron enters, he rushes to the counter. (A board keeps him behind the barrier.) He stands up on his hind legs next to Dillard and patiently waits for the visitor to notice him and pat his wide, wise head.
Mr. Magoo was born in Prunedale, but there was a problem.
"The mother had eight puppies, and this one was born deaf," Dillard said.
Dillard had been seeking to buy a Catahoula and was looking over the litter. The breeders didn't know what to do with the puppy that could not hear.
"I said, 'I'd like to take him,' " Dillard said. "They gave him to me. 'Just give him a good home,' they said."
Children had already christened the deaf puppy "Mr. Magoo." The name comes, of course, from the cartoon character Mr. Magoo. Despite being notoriously nearsighted, the good-hearted Magoo - Jim Backus provided the cartoon voice - triumphed over his limitations and led a happy and productive life.
"Because of his hearing, he sort of clings to you," Dillard said of the dog. "He likes to keep people in sight."
One of Mr. Magoo's favorite people is Salvador Perezchica, salesman and trophy assembler. Perezchica works in the store's back shop. At first, he was leery of keeping a dog at work.
"I'd never been around dogs much," he said. "But this guy is really friendly, even if he does try to steal my lunch."
Bill Randall, the store manager, is also a favorite of Mr. Magoo's.
Twice a day, Randall puts the leash on the dog. The two take a walk around Oldtown.
"We head down Monterey Street," Randall said. "He likes to smell the restaurants."
(2 of 2)
In the back of the shop, there are games for Mr. Magoo to play, too, such as when Randall hides doggie treats in the morning, and Magoo sniffs them out and eats them.
He also likes to run up and down the back-shop stairs and take a few laps around the workbench.
"I think he reads lips," Randall said. "He's smart as a whip."
The Louisiana Catahoula is named after Catahoula Parish, and the breed is Louisiana's official dog. Farmers use the breed as herders. Hunters use them to track black bears, feral pigs, mountain lions and other critters.
Dillard started bringing Mr. Magoo to work right after he got him. The dog rides with him seated proudly in the passenger seat of Dillard's white pickup.
Mr. Magoo is at home in a business setting. After awhile, though, it's time to settle down on his blue mat under the back shop workbench.
The lids on his pink-rimmed, marble-looking eyes, typical of the breed, get heavier and heavier.
Soon Mr. Magoo drifts into nap rapture, a peaceful space where biscuit treats float by, fresh human faces appear and there's always a kind word to be heard.
A place, like the store itself, that makes a dog's life worth living.
Mr. Magoo may never win a Best of Show trophy, even though he hangs out in a trophy store.
He is, though, a sure thing for a Mr. Congeniality award.
The dog, fast becoming one of Oldtown Salinas' great characters, is a 2-year-old, 75-pound, mostly deaf Louisiana Catahoula.
To meet him, stop by Valley Trophies & Detectors, 256 Main St. He goes there daily with his owner, Kurt Dillard, who also runs the business.
"He's friendly, and the customers really like him," Dillard said.
Mr. Magoo wiggles his pink and black nose. He wags his long tail.
When a patron enters, he rushes to the counter. (A board keeps him behind the barrier.) He stands up on his hind legs next to Dillard and patiently waits for the visitor to notice him and pat his wide, wise head.
Mr. Magoo was born in Prunedale, but there was a problem.
"The mother had eight puppies, and this one was born deaf," Dillard said.
Dillard had been seeking to buy a Catahoula and was looking over the litter. The breeders didn't know what to do with the puppy that could not hear.
"I said, 'I'd like to take him,' " Dillard said. "They gave him to me. 'Just give him a good home,' they said."
Children had already christened the deaf puppy "Mr. Magoo." The name comes, of course, from the cartoon character Mr. Magoo. Despite being notoriously nearsighted, the good-hearted Magoo - Jim Backus provided the cartoon voice - triumphed over his limitations and led a happy and productive life.
"Because of his hearing, he sort of clings to you," Dillard said of the dog. "He likes to keep people in sight."
One of Mr. Magoo's favorite people is Salvador Perezchica, salesman and trophy assembler. Perezchica works in the store's back shop. At first, he was leery of keeping a dog at work.
"I'd never been around dogs much," he said. "But this guy is really friendly, even if he does try to steal my lunch."
Bill Randall, the store manager, is also a favorite of Mr. Magoo's.
Twice a day, Randall puts the leash on the dog. The two take a walk around Oldtown.
"We head down Monterey Street," Randall said. "He likes to smell the restaurants."
(2 of 2)
In the back of the shop, there are games for Mr. Magoo to play, too, such as when Randall hides doggie treats in the morning, and Magoo sniffs them out and eats them.
He also likes to run up and down the back-shop stairs and take a few laps around the workbench.
"I think he reads lips," Randall said. "He's smart as a whip."
The Louisiana Catahoula is named after Catahoula Parish, and the breed is Louisiana's official dog. Farmers use the breed as herders. Hunters use them to track black bears, feral pigs, mountain lions and other critters.
Dillard started bringing Mr. Magoo to work right after he got him. The dog rides with him seated proudly in the passenger seat of Dillard's white pickup.
Mr. Magoo is at home in a business setting. After awhile, though, it's time to settle down on his blue mat under the back shop workbench.
The lids on his pink-rimmed, marble-looking eyes, typical of the breed, get heavier and heavier.
Soon Mr. Magoo drifts into nap rapture, a peaceful space where biscuit treats float by, fresh human faces appear and there's always a kind word to be heard.
A place, like the store itself, that makes a dog's life worth living.
