Puppy Love
MARSHALL — Globules of saliva radiate from a red Frisbee as it rises and falls into the distance. Then, just when it appears the disk will float calmly back to earth, Orrville — a black lab of about 2 — springs up, ripping the object from the air.
Dean Wenger and Theresa Lubke of Marshall adopted Orrville, and his energy, from Marshall’s animal impoundment center near the end of January.
“I grew up on a farm and we always had a dog,” Wenger says. “People kind of knew I wanted a dog. We had talked about it with friends.”
Karen Uecker, a community service officer for the Marshall Police Department and a friend of the couple, introduced Wenger and Lubke to Orrville.
“She called us and said, ‘Hey, there’s this dog I think you really should look at,’” Lubke says.
Orrville, named for Wenger’s hometown in Ohio, was found in the K Mart parking lot without identification. After two visits, Wenger and Lubke decided to adopt Orrville because of his friendly demeanor.
The addition, however, was not a hit with everyone in the family.
“We have two cats,” Lubke says. “They were not really thrilled about the adoption.”
Other aspects of owning a dog, like house-training, were also difficult at times, she says. He left a mess in the basement one day, “splattering it all over,” she says.
Yet, an obvious attachment has formed between Orrville and his owners.
“For the first couple months he was glued to your leg,” Lubke says. “I would be doing dishes, back up and trip over him.”
“I take him running with me sometimes,” she adds, “but he’s more interested in stopping and smelling everything.”
Orrville’s first love seems to revolve around his Frisbee.
“You have to think someone spent time with him, teaching him tricks,” Wenger says, watching Orrville contort in midair and snatch his latest throw.
Seconds later, he calls Orrville to his side, asking him to sit and then shake. The dog completes both tasks with little hesitation and then waits for his reward: a pat on the head and another fling of the disk.
“When he catches it,” Lubke says, “he normally does a victory lap around the yard.” Orrville is on his fourth Frisbee, Wenger says. The first ended up on a roof, the second in the river and the third Orrville just chewed up, he says.
After a few more tosses, Orrville returns, panting. His tongue drapes lazily over his lower jaw, accompanied by a six inch strand of drool.
“He would play Frisbee until he’d die,” Lubke says.
Orrville also enjoys road-tripping with his human companions.
“He just curls up in the back seat,” Wenger says. “He will stick his head out the window when we go to McDonald’s. He knows they have dog biscuits.”
Overall, Wenger and Lubke say their adoption experience has been a positive one. They suggest people pick a dog that fits their family, lifestyle and living space. They say they spend several hours a day interacting with Orrville.
Cost is another issue to consider, according to the couple. Wenger and Lubke say they have spent about $1,000 since the adoption and may add a fence around their yard to give Orrville more freedom. “I would recommend it,” Lubke says, regarding adoption. “When you make the decision you just have to prepare your house.”
Wenger and Lubke said they were worried at first that someone might try and claim Orrville after the adoption. They were told, however, that they now had full legal rights to the animal.
Animals picked up by the city are kept for two weeks. Animals wait to be claimed during the first week and are put up for adoption during the second week.
Those interested in adopting a pet can visit Marshall’s animal impoundment center from 2-6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays or by appointment through the Marshall Police Department at 537-7000. The center is located at 800 Kossuth Ave., near Justice Park.
