Want to talk about your pet subject?*If you would like to feature (with your pet) in a forthcoming edition of this regular column, please contact Colleen Morgan at Colleen@MoodieDavittReport.com |
The Moodie Davitt Report is delighted to bring you the latest edition in our Petsonality Profile column, in association with Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
In this regular fun feature, we discover more about travel retail pet-sonalities, their back stories, traits and habits, as well as offering some insights into their owners. Each pet-sonality is also painted digitally by pets and equine artist Sami Moodie.
In this edition we meet Ontario International Airport* Director of Office Management & Employee Activities Taylor Mabry and her much-loved Maiya. Still a youngster at heart, Maiya may have missed her calling as a therapy dog but she is definitely the office mascot; well known as part of the team, and very much appreciated by all of Taylor’s colleagues.
Name: Maiya.
Breed: Mayia is a Chow Chow mix although I thought she was a Shiba Inu mix until a DNA test revealed a surprise; no Shiba Inu at all. She’s 35% Chow Chow, 15% German Shepherd, 12% Chihuahua and a smattering of Maltese, Cocker Spaniel, American Eskimo Dog, Boxer, and a bunch more! Truly the best mutt mix.
How old is Maiya? She is 17.
How did you meet? I met Maiya when she was only six months old, and I was still in high school. I had gone with my mom to the Ramona Animal Shelter, wandering through all the kennels to meet my potential future best friend.
Among the cacophony of barking and howling, I found Maiya. She was just a baby at the time and was kennelled with four or five other very rambunctious dogs. She looked absolutely terrified.
I wish I had a photo of our first time meeting, but I still remember it clear as day. I hugged her tight and was gutted I had to leave her (she had to get spayed and ready for adoption so we couldn’t take her that day). When I finally brought her home, I knew she was special, but I never imagined what a huge impact she would have on my life and countless others.
Love at first sight? 100%. As soon as I laid eyes on Maiya, I knew she was for me. She stole my heart since day one and I have loved her more with every day that passes.
Even after 17 years, every time I look at her, it feels like my heart grows three sizes. She is truly my little soul dog.
Quirky habits? Maiya will only eat her food if there is a human (preferably Mom) around to watch her. She won’t touch it if she’s alone in the room.
A morning ritual at the office is to refill her water bowl. Maiya is known for galloping through the halls, saying hi to everyone and getting pets from all my colleagues. In fact, she loves it so much, I usually have to carry her out at the end of the day because she never wants to leave.
Maiya has been coming to the office with me since March 2020 when her daycare shut down due to COVID. Now she’s been here longer than many of our staff and is our official office mascot.
Nicest moment(s)? One of the things I am most proud of is that Maiya has, through gentle, consistent interactions, won over two people who were absolutely petrified of dogs before meeting her. One said if they ever had their own dog, it would have to be like Maiya. And the other conquered her fear enough to even pet her.
Maiya is the sweetest soul who loves everyone she meets, and I’ve yet to find someone who didn’t fall in love with her.
Favourite trick/treat? Maiya’s hearing isn’t quite what it used to be, so her verbal trick commands don’t work like they used to. When she was in her prime, she had a whole slew of tricks up her sleeve, from the basics of sit, lay down, stay and roll over to shaking with left and right paw, jumping, and turning around. That was always a fun one because she’d get up on her two back legs to dance in a circle in both directions. Absolutely adorable, every time.
And her favourite treat? That would probably be anything that her mom is eating. Otherwise, mini marshmallows, followed closely by banana chips.
Social media account? Nope.
If Maiya could talk what would her first words be? I would hope ‘I love you’ but realistically they would probably be a combination of ‘Can we go outside?’ and ‘Let me get a bite of your food’.
Favourite airport/airline? Maiya has never travelled by plane before, but obviously her favourite airport is Ontario.
Anything else we should know? Maiya really missed her calling as a therapy dog because she is the most kind, gentle and patient dog I have ever met. She’s not the typical dog that needs to smell you before you can pet her and will gladly sit for any length of time to get pets from anyone willing, both kids and adults.
Maiya is the happiest dog ever. She brings unending joy to my life and lights up everyone who sees her at the office. She really is the best girl ever.
* Ontario International Airport hosted The Moodie Davitt Report’s Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards this year. Click here to access The FAB eZine for highlights of the event, which took place in Ontario, California on 25-26 June.
Click here for our introductory story on the Duty Free Unleashed partnership with Tito’s Handmade Vodka. The independent vodka brand from Austin, Texas has had a close connection with the welfare of dogs since its founding by Bert ‘Tito’ Beveridge in 1997.
The company has always been committed to rescuing and protecting the animals that have come into the lives of its people, and has even created a programme, Vodka for Dog People, to help that come to life.
Note: Through this new column, Tito’s Handmade Vodka and The Moodie Davitt Report are partnering to promote the work of brokenbiscuits.org, a disabled animal charity. As the world’s first disabled animal centre, its work includes:
- Providing equipment to families
- Offering homes to paraplegic, deaf, blind and disabled animals
- An education programme of visiting schools and universities
- Working alongside rescue centres, rehabbers and veterinary professionals
- Caring for stray and surrendered disabled animals
To support the work of Broken Biscuits, you can donate via this link or find out more via the youtube channel.
Previously on Petsonality Profile
Meet Nadine Heubel, Rhonda and Tara
Meet Sharon Crompton, Bruce and Dexter
Meet Jeff Butler and Rosie and Rascal
Meet Hannah Tan-Gillies and Charlie
Meet Daniel Levin and Garfield
Meet Denz van der List and Jazz
Meet Tankred Stachelhaus and Pepina
Maitreyi Karanth’s Shaggy (and Demi) dog story
Meet Jilly Brocklebank and Sadie
Meet Alex Thompson and Chester
Meet Sinéad El Sibai and Guinness
Meet Bronwyn Clementson and Harvey
Meet Jeff Bond and his four-legged friends
Meet Pauline Prescott’s Daisy and Digger
Meet Julio Cesar Magaña Ortiz and Hope
Meet Barry Geoghegan, Milly and Jess
Meet Duke and Lindsay Hitzeroth
