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hen guests pull into the parking lot of the Inn at Oriental, the first thing they would likely see is a bounding dog on stubby legs running to greet them…. and then lead them to Reception. “Fergie is our official greeter,” say inn owners Marie and Hugh Grady. For serving up Oriental’s best bed and breakfast welcome – with some moonlighting on the side – Fergie is Mr. June.

Fergie

Fergie is a Pembrokeshire Welsh corgi. While best known as the breed favored by Queen Elizabeth II, corgis are one of the world’s oldest breeds of working dogs. Originally, they were bred to herd sheep, horses and almost any stock found on a farm. They’re known to be among the smartest of dogs.

Unlike his Welsh ancestors, Fergie hails from Virginia. He joined the Grady’s as a puppy almost 13 years ago, shortly after they acquired the Inn at Oriental.

Fergie’s social and herding streaks work to his advantage as canine Inn host. Like masters of any art, he has a system.

Though he enjoys a dog nap any time of day, Fergie is ever alert for the crunch of rubber on gravel. That’s the sign of a vehicle entering the Inn’s parking area. When he hears the tell-tale sound, he springs into the air and races to investigate. Though short of leg, Fergie can close the gap between nap and vehicle in seconds. When the vehicle halts, he scurries to the driver side door and waits for the guest to step out.

Then his herding instinct kicks in – or rather his leading instinct. Head high, eyes smiling, he leads the new arrival to the reception area where Hugh or Marie can conduct the human welcome. On the rare occasions he’s not able to meet guests at the car, he still makes them feel at home. He rolls onto his back and lets new arrivals scratch his tummy. Hugh refers to this as “greeting folks with his belly”.

Welcome to the Inn: Fergie with his humans Marie and Hugh Grady.

As Hugh notes, “Fergie is very stomach oriented”. Favorite dishes include the daily bowl of dog food and, for a special treat, ice cubes. Here, to describe Fergie’s body shape, Hugh is careful. Yes, Fergie has short legs. Yes, he has a stout upper body. To explain the predicament, Hugh notes “Fergie is not so easy to pick up – because he’s top heavy….”

Fergie on the patio enjoying a bit of shade. It’s the perfect vantage point from which to survey the parking area for arriving guests

While Fergie relishes his role as Inn host, he also enjoys self-guided forays around Oriental.

These often start at lunch time. Led by nose and wanderlust, Fergie is known to drop by the Village Food Emporium, next door to the Inn, to see what’s on the menu. There, tucked under one of the outside tables where patrons enjoy their meals, his splayed feet can be seen among the sandals and painted toes.

Blending in

His tactics are simple. If a charming gaze doesn’t result in a morsel, lying gently on a patron’s foot will. “He’s a real con artist,” Hugh says. If no one is eating outside, Fergie positions himself at the business entrance. There, seated in front of the glass door, he peers into the Emporium until a patron exits. Few customers can resist his charms, giving Fergie a pat, if not a bite of their lunch.

Over time, Fergie has fine tailored his visits to coincide with the Emporium’s business hours. He stays away on Mondays. “They’re closed then,” Marie notes.

Hello in there, can anyone see me down here…? Fergie tries his luck at the Emporium’s front door.

Fergie turning on the charm

Other favorite haunts include Town Hall and the Village Hardware store. He makes his Town Hall appearance most often around mid-afternoon. While it’s a fine time to visit with residents paying their water bill, it also coincides with the UPS truck arrival – and a potential doggie treat from the driver.

His Village Hardware visits are less scheduled. Still, in recent weeks, Marie says store employee Paul Fairbanks has called “two or three times” to let her know Fergie was making a social call. She suspects the he wasn’t looking for a rake but rather one of Paul’s pet treats.

While Fergie generally makes his way home fine after his outings, on one occasion he had to be escorted home. On New Years Eve 2011, frightened by the noise of the dragon run, he was found taking shelter under a chair on the porch of the Bean. He was returned to the Inn by Bean employee Adam Balfour.

Lost Corgie: Fergie on the Bean porch on New Years Eve 2011. Here, Adam Balfour prepares to bring Fergie home.

To burn off the meals he so enjoys, Fergie partakes in plenty of aerobic exercise. Some weekends, the Grady’s grandchildren Emmie and Caroline James come for a visit. These, “he enjoys herding around” Hugh says. Other days he’s content chasing tennis balls around the back yard. “He so fast,” Hugh says, “he can catch a rabbit” — which he promptly turns loose. Slower speed outings include walks to the Bean or, when Hugh and Marie are out of town, strolls with Bama Lutes Deal.

Fergie with Emmie James at the 2011 Oriental Pet Parade.

For making everyone in his path feel at home, from bed and breakfast guest to Oriental residents met on his roamings, we salute Fergie, Mr June.

Fergie’s Bio

Celebrity Pet Most Resembles: Robert Redford
Likes: Biting waves, herding children, eating ice cubes
Dislikes: Wearing a hat, carrots
Friendly fetish: Licking babies’ toes
Most offensive question to endure: What’s wrong with that dog’s legs?

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.