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H

e bombs across the Neuse on a Zodiac at 40 knots. He windsurfs, sails on catboats and would go kiteboarding if the board was wide enough for his paws.

“Monkey just loves anything to do with boats,” says owner Will Flannery. For logging more sea miles than many in the Sailing Capital of North Carolina, TownDock.net names Monkey Mister March – the Pet Of The Month.

Monkey taking a break from his duties at sea to chew up a pine cone

Watching kiteboarders at Wiggins Point. Will says the kiteboards are too narrow for Monkey to stand on. Still, a dog can dream… (Will Flannery photo)

They say a dog takes after its owner. Monkey is a prime example.

In 1985, Will Flannery windsurfed 1500 miles from Islamorada, Florida to Point Pleasant, New Jersey. Will has also owned many cat boats, Zodiacs and windsurfers. If it floats, chances are Will has skippered it – or at least mulled the prospect over. If it’s a landlubber friend, that person will soon be out on a hull, pontoon or sail board.

Even pooches aren’t immune.

About 7 years ago, Will wanted a dog. A family in Havelock had a litter of 9 puppies that needed new homes. Will drove over for a look. When he arrived, he says the young Lab mix were playing together in a bunch. Will opened the the door of his truck and one of the young dogs ran right up to him. Will was thrilled to be chosen. “I guess you’re the one,” he thought and bought the dog.

That was Monkey. Within hours of Will entering Monkey’s life (remember, it was the dog that found the man), his landlubber status was upgraded to sea dog.

Will only missed one birthday in Monkey’s life – his first one. In his puppy days, Will called him “Atticus”. Temporarily. As he searched for a more permanent name, one of Will’s friends saw the young dog and said, “hey, come here you little monkey!” So Monkey it was… (Will Flannery photo)

Monkey’s first boat ride was short. Will and his new first mate took the Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach ferry to get home to Oriental. The next day they took a longer sail aboard “Yankee”, Will’s 22-foot Marshal catboat.

The two have been constant water companions since, and because of that, Monkey has racked up an impressive number of sea miles.

Will gives inflatable raft tours – sometimes in Oriental, often farther away. When Monkey was young, Will says, “I would tuck him into my coat and head to Beaufort,” to pick up tour groups. Favorite hangouts there are Carrot Island and Shackleford Banks. While he was still small enough, the Back Street Pub let Monkey sit on a bar stool – just like the human patrons.

“I make the trip a couple of times a week when I’m busy,” Will says.

Some of the boat runs are even longer, such as Cape Lookout – 36 miles from Will’s home. That’s an hour’s ride, each way, in Will’s twin engine Zodiac inflatable. Three round trips and a dog can quickly chalk up over 200 sea miles.

Monkey back in the days when he fit in Will’s coat (Will Flannery photo)

Planing Monkey (WIll Flannery photo)

When not travelling across the river to Carteret County, Monkey enjoys hanging out with Will for boat runs closer to home – a ride to The Bean, for instance, or up Dawsons Creek, or a run over to Wiggins Point to see what the kiteboarders are up to. Over the years, Will reckons Monkey has logged thousands of sea miles.

But Monkey isn’t just about water sports. He’s also been a match maker.

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Jen Stockton is Will’s girlfriend and she says Monkey gives her “a reason to smile every day.” Maybe it’s how Monkey shreds the pine cones she throws him. He devours even the spiniest ones, the ones with tips so sharp they’ll prick a hand when thrown. These are the ones Monkey chews to bits and “uses for dental floss.”

Monkey laying some serious body language on Jen. He’s signaling the words, “Throw. The. Pine. Cone”.

Or maybe the secrets to Monkey’s charm stem from what Jen calls, The Monkey Mind Meld. He’s worked out a system of barks, whines and glances to communicate what he wants. She says Monkey has a particular noise for “cookie”, another for “boat”, and for “dock”, and “dolphin” and, when it’s time to go outside, “poopertunity”.

Perhaps though, it’s the memory of how she and Will became a couple that makes her smile. “I was visiting Oriental.” she jokes. “I met a boy and fell in love with his dog.”

When not projecting positive thoughts, Monkey enjoys beach runs, like this one up a cove at the mouth of Dawsons Creek.

Will lives at the mouth of Dawson’s Creek and the end of his community’s dock is one of Monkey’s favorite hangouts. “He’ll sit there on the end of the pier for hours watching the water,” Will says. He especially enjoys it when the porpoises swim by, heading into Dawsons Creek for supper.

When they show up, Will says that Monkey “will run from dock to dock, down each one, then back off it and over to the next one.” This continues until the porpoises swim out of sight or Monkey gets bored with it. Which is rare. There are plenty of other things to watch from the river bank – pelicans, ducks and jumping mullet.

Monkey on the dock. Behind him, the piers he runs down in his porpoise pursuit. Also, the Dawsons Creek bridge.

Sometimes Monkey even gets a close up – very close up – view of wildlife.

“When I fish off the dock,” says Will, “he’ll hang out with me. When I catch a fish, he’ll bark and bark at it. He’ll get all excited and want to sniff it.”

It’s in these protected waters, where he chases porpoise, fish and birds, that Monkey started windsurfing.

Monkey and Jen racking up the sea miles. This particular windsurfer has an extra broad board. Will describes it as “wide as a sidewalk”. It provides a stable platform for beginners – and dogs like Monkey with windsurfing ambitions. (Will Flannery photo)

The first day Will taught Jen to windsurf, he had her sailing in the sheltered waters off the community pier. Sailing back and forth across the creek mouth, getting the hang of the rig, Jen caught Monkey’s attention. Not content to watch, he jumped into the water, hauled himself onto Jen’s board. The two of them were off.

Perched on the front of the board, he scanned the passing waters as intently as he monitored them from the dock. Will says Monkey enjoys riding the windsurfer – or any other boat ride for that matter – because, “it makes a great perch to look at fish and birds.”

Will says, “I feel pretty lucky Monkey chose me that day a long time ago.” He is. It’s a fortunate man who has a dog who’s ready to join him for a water adventure at the sight of a windsurfer, cat boat or Zodiac.

For putting enough sea miles under his paws to make a proper sea captain take note, TownDock.net celebrates Monkey – Mister March.

Monkey’s Bio:

Celebrity most resembles: Davy Jones

Likes: pine cones, clean tennis balls, chasing kiteboarders and trainer kites
Dislikes: Squirrels and sandy tennis balls
Nicknames: Ninja, Sea Monkey, Sea Monster, Love Monster, Love Cake
Favorite dog treat: Granny Bab’s Homemade Molasses Doggie Cookies
Most un-seaman like move: falling into the water while chasing a pelican
Venue that busted him for unauthorized snacking: Camp Caroline
Song that makes him nervous: “Shock the Monkey” by Peter Gabriel

Know a pet that is a standout? Send in some details and a photo to info@towndock.net. Tell why that pet deserves the coveted TownDock.net Pet of the Month Prize Package --- accolades, a pat on the head (snakes excluded) and a box of Milk Bones ( or snack suitable for the species). We regret that we cannot offer a college scholarship to Pet Of The Month winners. Animals caught near the HarborCam attempting to suck up to the judges will be disqualified.