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n his early years, his life goal was eating the family parrot. Now he settles for a daily slab of dried herring. For drawing the line between 25-cent fish snack and thousand-dollar fowl, Burt is awarded the honor of June Pet Of The Month.

Burt ponders a thousand-dollar snack.

Burt’s diet decisions haven’t always been as civil. When Frank and Jennifer Roe first met him, Burt was living at the animal shelter.

As with most mixed-blood strays, Burt’s pre-pound days are shrouded in mystery. Jennifer describes Burt as a Basset Hound / Dachshund mix – the Dachshund side contributed the long back, the Basset hound side endowed the bowed legs and nose that “got him in trouble”.

Burt: body by Dachshund, nose by Basset.

She thinks his keen sense of smell lead him on a hunting trip that ended at the Greensboro pound where the couple found their dog. Even the dog’s age was a mystery. The pound thought he was about 2 years old.

The Roes brought Burt home and discovered their new acquisition perfect in most regards. Jennifer says he was “laid back” and enjoyed “greeting other dogs”. Even his keen sense of smell remained in check. He only ran away twice – once to the Bean and once to the nearby Cartwright House. Jennifer attributes it to a case of mistaken smells. She thinks he wandered off with some intriguing smelling strangers and lost their scent. Both times, when Jennifer found him, he was “so happy to see me.”

Burt admires Burt on a family outing.

The transition from pound hound to Oriental hound had seemingly been made – except in one regard. Burt hated Matt the family parrot. Specifically, he wanted to eat him.

Matt the parrot gets nervous as Burt gives him the “taste like chicken” stare.

Matt is the Roe’s double yellow head Amazon parrot. One day, while the parrot was being moved between cages, Burt thought he had his long sought opportunity. He made his move and caught the parrot. The expensive bright green bird thrashed and shrieked in the 75-dollar dog’s jaws, but before Burt could enjoy a tasty meal of “Parrot a l’Orange” Jennifer swooped in and pried the bird from Burt’s mouth. The bird dropped to the floor “covered in slobber” but otherwise unharmed.

It was the start of a long, uneasy truce between hound and parrot.

A close up of Burt’s delicacy – dried fish.

Burt lives with the Roes on the banks of the Neuse River. One day, a dead fish washed up and he pounced on the treat with the same relish that he dove on the family parrot. Unfortunately for Burt, Jennifer witnessed the act and “pried it out of his mouth”. Ever the gentle dog, he never offered to bite.

At the time, the Roes had been trying to get Burt to occupy a bed in the detached garage. Burt had resisted. Jennifer had a brainwave. Why not start feeding Burt fish in the garage, to make the place more welcoming? Clearly, feeding him rotten fish wouldn’t do so dried strips of herring were substituted.

The strategy worked. Burt now enjoys daily fish strips and naps on his doggie bed.

Fish snack deployment.

Burt seen leaving the vet’s office on Broad Street. Burt is trying to keep quiet that he was told he needs to lose 8 pounds.

These days life for Burt the ex-pound dog is civil. Walks to the Bean for vanilla ice cream (kiddie portion in a cup). Check ups with vet Sherry.

Still, the temptation to switch from herring back to parrot exists. From the safety of his cage, Matt the parrot enjoys screaming “Burt! Burt! Burt!”

Uneasy truce: Frank Roe, Matt, Burt and Jennifer Roe.

Congratulations, Burt, for knowing when to select fish over fowl. Burt, Mr. June 2009.

Burt’s Bio

Celebrity Pet Most Resembles: Stonewall Jackson
Favorite color: Burberry plaid.
Favorite tunes: All elevator music
Favorite treat: Dead Neuse fish
Unrealized lifetime dream: Eating Matt the family parrot.
Hates to hear vet say: “Burt needs to go from 53 pounds to 45”.

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.