Dogs of FHN

When Madelyn Herrell was around 10 years old, she and her family decided on getting a new puppy. The puppy was named Emmy. Emmy, now an 8-year-old Jack Russel they got from Herrell’s grandparents, has lived in the Herrells’ home for almost nine years.  “We always wanted a dog after moving here from Germany,” Madeyln said. “So, once we were out of our rental house that doesn’t allow dog...

Everyone needs a friend. Stray animals can be just that for a person; a friend that they so desperately need. For Caitlin Darling and her family, this best friend is their small yellow dog, Finny.  Finny came from stray parent dogs, who were owned by Darling’s neighbor.  “He’s a really easy dog,” Caitlin said. Some compare stray dogs to humans. These animals have been through hard lives...

 Gabby Grace is a junior in high school, she lives in a two-story house with a big backyard, perfect for a dog to run in. At the time, Grace was five years old when she got Sammy, a small white Maltese at Petland. “I am like the mom to Sammy, he’s my best friend,” Grace said. As Sammy has settled into the family, he has been included on many road trips. They have been to Disney and Michigan t...

Madelyn Brewer is a freshman at FHN. She lives with her parents and brother and they have a dog named Gypsy. Gypsy is a 7-year-old mix they rescued when Madelyn was seven.   “I was in second grade,” Madelyn said. “The first day we got her, my brother had soccer practice which meant me and my mom were home alone with her. We laid on the carpet watching the animal planet together and she fell ...

The Dustin family is a full house that includes two adults, three children, goldfish and koi fish that total 30 -- and a small Havanese dog. This small black fluffy Havanese with a white patch on his chin is Stewart Winstone Dustin. He is three and a half years old and still does so much. “When we first got our dog my mom and dad, instead of doing a business trip, they secretly planned a secreti...

Lisa Woodrum has been working at FHN for 10 years, but this is the first year she is bringing her dog with her to work. Woodrum’s two-year-old dog Daisy is training to be a therapy dog. She is used here at FHN on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help cheer up kids when they are having a bad day or calm them down when they are stressed. Although Daisy is here to help the students, the staff already loves...

The Zimmerman family’s beloved first dog was Izzy. She was an 11-year-old German Shepherd with a light coat that had been with the family since she was four months old. “Everybody in the family loved her,” freshman Sophia Zimmerman, the oldest of two children, said. “She wasn’t anyone’s particular dog.” Izzy wasn’t too affectionate but she was very protective of everyone in the ho...

 A passionate dancer and an enthusiastic teammate, Sarah Stover has had countless bumps in the road that try pushing her back from what she loves to do. However, one friend in particular has been her biggest comfort for six years, even when Sarah almost lost all hope after a medical diagnosis that few receive.  “They are always together,” Sarah’s mom, Sandy Borton said.   When Sarah was just 11 years old, Lu...

It all started with a trip to Illinois. Amber-Chelsa Kibera and her family were going on a trip to see some relatives. What she didn’t know was that she was going to get a pet that would change her life forever.  “His name is Brody, he’s five years old,” Kibera said. “He’s a German shepherd and is so cute, he has these big ears that are just adorable.”  Kibera is a 16-year-old who l...

Shortly after Easter of 2020, the McCoy’s gained a new family member. After years of persistent asking and PowerPoint presentations during quarantine made by the children, the family drove to Iowa to pick up their puppy. Now, 18 months later, Clover, the mini golden doodle, has become an essential part of the McCoy family. “He definitely has his routine,” the McCoy’s oldest child, 15-year...

 A dog’s average lifespan is 10 to 13 years, but the Munyat family dog, Xander, was with them a bit longer than expected. It all started when Christy Lynn Munyat saw a small brown and white long-haired chihuahua for sale in a pet store in Chesterfield Mall. “I didn’t have enough money to pay for him, so I took out a loan at Wells Fargo Bank and I paid $700 for him,” Christy said. Xander...