Love me, love my dog

[bigdoglover]

LOVE ME, LOVE MY DOG: Get a Dog, Lose Weight; Charleston Attorney’s Book Explains How Woman’s Best Friend Helps Both Keep Fit

By Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Writer

Charleston, WV (HNN) -- What do a relationship breakup, feeling depressed, gaining weight and a furry mixed-breed dog have in common? For Charleston trial attorney Patti Lawson adopting a shelter dog helped her start a new life and solve her ongoing obsession with fitting into a pair of her favorite jeans.

Following a breakup, Lawson adopted a ball of energy -- a cocker spaniel/ German shepherd mix -- who demanded attention, exercise and food. A vet told her not to feed her new 30-pound companion “any of my food.”

To stop Sadie from pleading for the junk food that Lawson was consuming, Lawson tried to find food for herself that “did not smell great so she came running to the kitchen and that was quiet so she did not hear me eating, either”

Dog ownership changed Lawson’s lifestyle as she found herself more energetic, alert in the mornings and less obsessed with scales like Bridget Jones.

“The book is the story of my adoption of Sadie and how we developed an exercise program for people and their dogs. The book really is about gaining joy about having a companion dog, although it will help lose weight because I lost 30 pounds [by] getting out, getting active, eating healthy foods that you can share with your dog, such as hard boiled eggs, tuna packed in water, cottage cheese and chicken.”

With publication of “The Dog Diet: What My Dog Taught Me About Shedding Pounds, Licking Stress and Getting a New Leash on Life,” book signing tour opportunities made Lawson aware of dog discrimination barriers. Planes remain off limits, so Lawson and her buddy travel to promotions in her pristine Mercedes convertible. But hotel accommodations can be stressful.

While some hotels have a 20-pound weight limit, others find more subtle ways to turn dog owner guests into second-class citizens. One hotel told her to sign the pet waiver and that she did not have to read it. But, as a good attorney, Lawson read it. She complained about a rule that dogs were not allowed in the elevator. After speaking to a manager, she was told it was for “allergy” reasons. The blonde free-speaking attorney countered that people are allergic to perfume too.

The couple decided this hotel was not for them. And Lawson the attorney kept the “dog rule” to send to corporate. The hotel property owner got a reprimand and she got a free night.

“The worst city on my tour was Philadelphia. It might be the City of Brotherly Love but [it’s] not the city of dog love.”

Touring the nation with Sadie yielded another encounter in Washington, D.C. Although the Mayflower Hotel was wonderful, one taxi driver refused to accept the lady and her dog. As the argument ensued, the hotel doorman told the cabbie to “get out of my line,” adding “you take all our guests or none.”

However, the rights of dog owners are increasing. She mentioned that Florida Governor Jeb Bush recently signed legislation which requires restaurants with outdoor seating to set aside a portion of the tables for people with canines. She’s found the practice in other states too.

While in Washington, D.C., she noticed that every outside restaurant table had a dog. And at last year’s Southern Women’s Show in Charlotte “all the restaurants that had tables outside, your dog was welcome. If they are not allowed within the perimeter, they are allowed on the outside next to your table, which makes it nice so they can have water and I always order her chicken or rice.”

The personal injury attorney who graduated from law school in 1992 said “I’m not out there practicing canine law yet, but I’m open to anything.” In fact, she did represent client in a dispute with a pet store over a St. Bernard puppy that needed surgery.

“A pet store gave a certificate ‘we sell love, we sell love.’ Some people bought a St. Bernard only to rescue him because he was getting too big for the cage. Then, he needed surgery. [The shop] said ‘no we’re not paying for it. We’ll give you another dog.’ I called up the vet / owner of the store and said ‘what if that was your child. Oh, bring the child back , we will give you another child.’ These people love this dog; they do not want another dog.”

Lawson sued the store and “we won in magistrate court. The dog got the surgery and went on to live a healthy life.”

Her clients purchased a St. Bernard then discovered that the dog needed surgery. The heartless pet shop owner essentially told them to bring the animal back and get another. Alas, they were already attached to the dog. Lawson took the case to magistrate court for her clients. The court ordered the shop owner to pay for the dog’s surgery.

Aside from traveling and her law practice, the young single women had for two years penned a “Dogs…Dieting…Dating” column which is half advice and half funny stories for the Sunday Charleston Gazette-Mail.

”Sadie is my date detector now. She determines who is good and who is not.” Prior to that, she wrote travel stories. “I came up with the idea because of all the funny things that were happening with Sadie and they did not have a pet advice column.”

Sadie and “mom” will be in Hurricane, W.Va. for the June 10, 2006 “Bark in the Park” fundraiser, and “mom” will be speaking June 30-July 1, 2006 at the National Society of Newspaper Columnists in Boston.

The team have also appeared on CNN and KDKA-TV, Pittsburgh.

For more information, visit, http://www.thedogdiet.com