November 19, 2005

Pet of the Month

Patches

Patches, an 8.5-year-old Queensland Blue Heeler, doesn’t really know that he’s a dog.

According to his owner Wilhelmena “Willie” Crosslin, he likes all types of humans, but he doesn’t like animals much. On his long walks around The Villages, he pays no attention to the vulture turkeys that cross his path. He’s more focused on his walk.

This breed of dog typically herds cattle, but the likelihood of this type of work occurring at The Villages is slim, so Patches needed a job.

“My husband and I are his job,” laughs Willie, noting Patches’ propensity for protecting his owners. “When I take a nap, Patches jumps on the bed with me, and nobody can get close to me, not even my husband Dick.”

If Dick playfully whacks Willie’s leg, Patches will nip Dick’s hand, without biting down. “He doesn’t like hitting,” says Willie. “He’s a very loving, old soul.”

Willie says that Patches doesn’t like sharing his owners with anyone, including their little 3-year-old grandson, Christopher. A few years ago, if she held Christopher in her arms, Patches would latch onto his shoes and attempt to pull the toddler out of her arms. “He didn’t want the baby to have anything to do with me,” says Willie.

Christopher soon wised up and took his shoes off at the door. Patches, who doesn’t want to hurt anyone, won’t nip at his bare feet.

Among some of their funniest memories of Patches is watching him take a plastic ball in his mouth, throw his head back and release it to play catch. He also enjoys soccer and Frisbee.

The Crosslins originally discovered Patches at a ranch in Idaho owned by Willie’s brother. Willie had Patches flown in from Idaho as a gift for her granddaughter Jennifer, whose daredevil tendencies on the surf board and elsewhere had grandma seeking a protector.

Yet when Jennifer went off to college in Pennsylvania, Patches stayed with Dick and Willie, and nothing could part the loyal hound from his new “parents” when Jennifer returned to California. “He got too attached to us,” notes Willie.

With their Pet of the Month entry, the Crosslins have won a $20 gift certificate from Evergreen Pet Center, located at 1620 E. Capitol Expressway in the Silver Creek Marketplace by Hollywood Video.

If you have a pet that you’d like to enter into our Pet of the Month competition, send an e-mail and photo to Bea Baechle, bea@timesmediainc.com.