Changing of the Guard

Winner for 2007-2008, Paul Knutson

Winner for 2008-2009, Bonnie Martineck

Hey Everyone!

As you know, we had our second birthday party on Saturday. Each year at our birthday party we give away a year worth of free treats to one lucky winner. Our new winner, Bonnie Martineck of Bella Vista, came in to claim her prize today. Bonnie seems like a great lady. She told me she used to be a vet tech, which I know is a job that requires a lot of work and gets little recognition, so I'm glad she could be our winner. I look forward to seeing her each month as she comes into pick up her free treats.



As fate would have it, last year's winner, Paul Knutson, came in to claim his last month of free treats today as well. The coincidence of both of them coming in on the same day made me reflective of the experience of giving away a year of free treats and how Paul has become part of the Bigwag family over the past year.

Let me tell you a little about Paul - he is one of the kindest, most generous people I have ever met. He quietly gives to the animal community of Northwest Arkansas and never asks anything in return. He has several dogs, each of them rescues, and let me tell you, these dogs are fortunate to have found a home with Paul and his wife.

He has taken in dogs that no one else gave a chance - one was showing signs of aggression to the point that a trainer recommended that the dog be put down. But Paul never considered this option. Instead, he patiently searched for the cause of the aggression. What he came to find out was that the dog was born without hip sockets, which you can imagine caused him immense pain. That dog is now receiving medication to ease his pain, and because of Paul's patience and care, people don't even recognize him as the same animal. Paul also adopted one of the dogs from a raid made in Rogers earlier this year. The dog that was infested with ticks and fleas and had been eating bark from trees because it was so hungry. Paul has nursed this dog back to health and taught him that people can be good and kind. Paul also continues to foster dogs in need, even though he has gone far beyond the call of duty. But perhaps the most remarkable thing about Paul is that he believes he is the lucky one in all of this - lucky to have found such loving dogs, lucky to share his life with such amazing animals.

For me, the remarkable thing about this whole situation is that when we gave away a year of free treats, I thought that the winner would be the lucky one. But the truth is, we were the lucky ones to have gotten the chance to know Paul. I hope he will continue to come in each month so that we can get updates on his furry clan. And I hope that Bonnie will become as much a member of our family in the year to come.

Lots of Love,
Erin