Published: August 19, 2006 10:46 pm      

Dalmatians run circles around other breeds

Do three Dalmatians add up to triple trouble?

Not at the household of Jodi Meeker-Milewski and James McGuire, where the three spotted pets are well-behaved. The youngest, however, a Dalmatian mix, does have a lot more energy than the other two.

“As long as it’s daylight, Oriio is running,” Jodi said.

“We think he runs on solar power,” James added.

The couple’s spelling-challenged pets are:

— Queenii, 7, who joined the household three years ago when her owners took a long-distance trucking job. Her spots are liver-colored, which is rare.

— Domenno, 5, who came from a local breeder when he was 4 weeks old.

— Oriio, 3, who was rescued from a home with 17 other dogs in Battleground, Ind., when he was a puppy. He was timid and 20 pounds lighter, but he’s now a happy, energetic dog.

James summed up Oriio’s life: “From pound to palace.”

Indeed, all three dogs are living the good life with their toys, treats, exercise and people who love them.

Like Labrador retrievers, Dalmatians have a reputation for being high-energy dogs.

Jodie and James have worked out a system, though.

When James gets off his job at Danville Mass Transit, he plays with the dogs for a while in the couple’s huge backyard just south of Danville. The dogs rest a bit and when Jodi comes home from her job in Dr. Roger Joy’s office, they get to play again.

“Really, it’s not bad (having three),” James said, “if you play with them.”

They like to chew on water bottles and snack on frozen grapes. In fact, they’ve stripped the backyard vines of grapes growing within their reach.

A favorite hiding place is a 16-foot-long wooden train James made for his granddaughter two years ago. When students from nearby South View Middle School walk by, the dogs jump out and startle the unsuspecting kids.

Oriio especially likes it when the school’s track team jogs past. He’ll chase them along the fence, wait at the corner for them to return and start the game all over again.

“He gets the others wound up,” Jodi said, referring to the other two dogs.

Sometimes, the dogs are a challenge, the couple admitted.

“Some days, they drive me crazy,” Jodi said. “You have to watch them like you do kids.”

The couple has been lucky, though, that the three haven’t succumbed to ailments that tend to hit Dalmatians, such as deafness and blindness.

She lost a 3-year-old Dalmatian, Blaize, to a bout with urinary stones in 2003.

Distinct dogs

Each dog has his or her unique personality, they said.

Oriio, for example, loves to be outdoors, no matter what the weather is, and is a “morning person.”

Domenno and Queenii, on the other hand, like to sleep in a bit; Domenno gets grouchy if awakened early.

When the owners tell the dogs to pick up their toys, they do so.

“They’re like children,” James said.

The couple has Christmas photos taken each year with the three “kids.” That posed a challenge for Jodi’s father, photographer John Milewski Jr., who tried to keep his patience while the dogs settled down, Jodi recalled fondly. John died in March.

As for recent discussion about doggy day cares, Jodi is a strong believer. She’d love to open one herself, but not right away.

In the meantime, she wonders if anyone else would get the ball rolling.

Her dogs are lucky to have each other as playmates. But some “single” dogs would love to make friends around town.

I’ve heard from a handful of people who would be interested in dropping their little darlings off at a day care. I’ll continue to pursue that line of thought in my column.

So, speak up if you have any ideas or if you’d support the idea for a park or a day care.

Farewell, friend

Dudley Conner, who earned acclaim as Sandy in the play “Annie Warbucks,” has taken his final bow.

The senior dog had a good life with owner June Conner of Danville, who adopted him when he was 3 or 4 years old almost 10 years ago. In recent years, however, he had been in failing health and on Aug. 12, Conner made the difficult decision to let go of her best friend.

She has high praise for veterinarian Dr. Brad Cooper, who even made house calls to help Dudley.

Dudley — named after actor Dudley Moore — was a hit in the Danville Light Opera production in October 1998.

It’s hard to euthanize a pet, but Conner can rest assured Dudley enjoyed doggy heaven here on earth while he lived with her.

Contact Mary Wicoff at 477-5161, send an e-mail to mwicoff@dancomnews.com or write to Commercial-News, 17 W. North, Danville, IL 61832.