Miss
August 2004 - Samantha
If Oriental has a "Grand Dame" of dogs - that would
be Samantha.
Samantha moves slow .... arthritis has crept up on her 14 year
old Labrador retriever bones. But she moves with a certain sureness
- that IS her sidewalk next to the Town Dock. And while her
porch manners are not always the most graceful - Samantha is
gonna get a piece of bagel or sausage biscuit when she visits
The Bean. The Grand Dame has it coming....
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Samantha
can often be seen on patrol on Hodges Street...walking
the sidewalk next to the harbor...then across the street
to the awaiting Bean porch.
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Samantha
was a Christmas 1990 present to Bob and Marie Loftin from their
son. She became Bob's black lab shadow wherever he went. Born
with official credentials as "Sweet Samantha XII",
Sam has real pedigree papers (not the norm for many village
pets). Her dad's name was "Down East Skeet Shoot"
and Mama's name was "Clarks Sweet Sugar" .... those
parents and the fact that she was came from Greenville, NC makes
her a true "Downeast Black Lab".
You
can barely make out the puppy behind the red bow of Samantha
the Christmas present. |
Young
pup Samantha. |
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The
late Bob Loftin rests with young Samantha on his lap.
|
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Resting
at home...Samantha in 2004.
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To
more recent times .... Samantha has been slowed down by years
of guarding the Bean porch from other four legged types that
might think they can get in on her turf.
It may be out of respect or more likely due to her size, but
there are few canines who attempt to cross her arthritic sprawled-out
laid back stance. If they dare ..... it only takes one of her
locomotive horn volume barks to send them back down the steps....
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From
The Bean porch Samantha watches the door expectantly,
for from that door humans with sausage biscuits pass....
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Most
of the time you can now catch Samantha at the side of local
resident Aunt Barb Venturi. The word is that Barb and Marie
have put Samantha on a high carb diet .... so she now only gets
the biscuit part of the morning sausage and egg biscuit. Seems
to be that even when Barb is out of town and Samantha is on
her own ........ she's been known to pay in advance for Samantha's
morning treats. Whatta life!
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Samantha
is often found at another popular hangout for humans and
dogs - the Tiki Bar. Here Sam goes behind the bar....she
knows there are milk bones back there...
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The
years have been good to Samantha. At age 14 she has proudly
earned the title August Pet of the Month, and with such title
the TownDock crew will present Samantha a bag of Ms. Mary's
Gourmet Dog Biscuits.
Samantha's Bio
Favorite Movie: On the Waterfront with Marlon
Brando
What
she likes best about Oriental: Hanging out on The Bean
porch
What she least likes about Oriental: Other dogs hanging
out on The Bean porch
Celebrity Pet Most Resembles: Lily Tomlin
Favorite Meal: Sausage biscuits at The Bean
Know a
pet that is a standout? Send in some details & photo to
pet@towndock.net.
Tell us why that pet deserves the coveted Pet of the Month Prize
Package --- accolades, a pat on the head (snakes excluded) and
a bag of Ms. Mary Duffie's Gourmet Dog Bones ( or snack suitable
for the species).
Animals
caught near the HarborCam attempting to suck up to the judges
will be disqualified.
