Pet of the week: Dog guards jewelry store
(This is the first in a new series highlighting pets in and around Marion. Almost everyone has a pet of one kind or another. Many businesses also keep pets for various reasons. To begin the series, a different business pet will be featured each week. Later, the series may be extended to include individual's pets, as well. Readers' referrals are welcome.)
Bev Shore's pet dog, Walker, also is a watchdog at her place of business, Flint Hills Gold. The part yellow lab, part golden retriever sleeps in the store at night.
Although he usually greets customers with a "smile" and a wag of his tail, he's a different dog at night, Bev said. If anyone rattles the front door knob, he jumps up on the window and barks ferociously.
"Police Chief Soyez can vouch for that," she commented.
Walker is a "found" dog, Bev said. He fell under her care quite by accident. A woman took the stray pup to Marion Fire Department. Bev's brother-in-law, fireman Jim Davis, brought him home to Bev at her apartment above the store.
"Oh, no, I don't want a dog," she had told him, "but I'll keep him until you find the owner."
"It's been 11 years now, and as you can see, I would never part with him," she said.
When Walker turned an estimated 10 years old last March — Bev said she's not sure how old he is — she and Sandy Loveless threw a party for him at Flint Hills Gold. They made bone-shaped cookies and gave out treats to visitors.
Bev invites people to drop in anytime during business hours to meet Walker.
