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HalfMoonBay Mastiffs -- Wednesday June 17th, 2009
Local dogs provide a mellow 'whine'
By Stacy Trevenon [ stacy@hmbreview.com ]
If you hear “mastiffs,” you might picture big, ferocious brutes best suited for guard duty. They might not bring to mind mellow wine.
That is, unless you are El Granada resident Debbie Wolfe.
She will be the first to tell you that she and husband Ross Brensinger regard their adopted 3-year-old “babies” — 130-pound “Hera” and 190-pound “Zeus” — imposing names notwithstanding – as calm, gentle giants.
While “they don’t love everybody,” said Debbie Wolfe, they are still amiable. She characterized their attitude as, “If you want to pet me, that’s all right, if Mom says it’s OK.”
But the wine?
Thanks to placing a winning bid in a silent auction at a 2008 fundraiser for West Coast Mastiff and Large Breed Rescue, Wolfe and Brensinger won a chance to have their dogs featured on a Canine Wines wine label for a Chardonnay that will be released in October.
Both dogs will be featured on the label, from a photo that Wolfe took of them.
The couple have had the two English mastiffs for two years. Brensinger was particularly fond of mastiffs, and always wanted one.
“He said they’re like living rugs,” Wolfe said. “A big, calm, cuddly breed.”
Always fond of animals, they had lost their cat and missed four-legged companions around the house. “We were petless,” said Wolfe. “It was time.”
So they turned to the West Coast Mastiff and Large Breed Rescue, with which Brensinger was acquainted. The nonprofit organization was formed to chip away at the number of large-breed dogs in the California shelter system, such as Great Danes or St. Bernards in addition to mastiffs, and place them in suitable homes across the western United States.
Just about the time that they did, Zeus and Hera, who are brother and sister, came up for adoption. They were born in San Diego, and the couple had to go to Malibu to pick them up in June 2007, put them in the back of their SUV and bring them to their new home.
The new dogs settled in to their new surroundings fairly easily. Wolfe and Brensinger took them to the San Bruno Dog Obedience School. There, the socially flexible Hera soon made it into the advanced, off-leash obedience level.
But her brother, being timid and easily distracted by nature, advanced more slowly, and is now at the intermediate level.
“He has trouble paying attention because every little thing distracts him,” said Wolfe.
At a time when many dog owners are becoming more aware of canine training and obedience issues, due in part to television shows like “The Dog Whisperer” and others that pit trainers against problem pooches, Wolfe describes herself as “kind of a convert” to the concept of pet obedience training.
“I think people have become more aware” of the wisdom of training pets, she said.
She is aware of the wisdom of training hers, and takes them on long regular walks along the Coastal Trail and other roomy local spots. “I’ve realized how incredibly powerful these dogs are,” she said. “If they’re not under control, there are going to be problems.”
The dogs are also photogenic, as Wolfe and Brensinger found when they attended last year’s fundraiser for West Coast Mastiff and Large Breed Rescue, held at Crushpad, a San Francisco business that rents wine-making equipment.
It was sponsored by Canine Wines, which specializes in varietals and vintages from Napa and Sonoma and donates $5 from each bottle sold to animal rescue.
How will they toast the new wine label?
They’re going to bring together friends who have helped them with the dogs, get a bottle for each one, and “have a large wine party,” said Wolfe.
Million $ Mutt Mansion -- Saturday May 30th, 2009
The West Coast Mastiff Rescue will participate in the Million $ Mutt Mansion event in Redlands, CA on Saturday May 30, 2009.
Here is the details:
The Redlands Chamber presents the 1st Ever Million $ Mutt Mansions Sat, May 30, 12noon-5pm. It's "A Dog House Auction" at Sylvan Park in Redlands. You'll enjoy a BBQ of "Hot Cats" with mustard. Bid on unique dog houses with a chance to be the winning bidder of a dog house for your million $ mutt. You'll also see service dogs in action. For info call 909-793-2546 or visit redlandschamber.org.
Sylvan Park, 601 N. University Ave, Redlands, CA
Look for us!
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