Loyalty Officer

Aloha! My name is Alex I’m 13 years old. I live in Honolulu Hawaii. To begin my story. I was born in Millers Place on Long Island New York. My first human mother and father were Marie and Mike Davino. Little did I know at 12 weeks My whole life would soon change. I didn’t know that my new mom and dad Alison Jayne and Jeff Wong were flying over from Honolulu to Boston. To meet and see me at the Boston Bay Exhibition Dog Show. My dad Noah was being shown by Marie. Now being 12 weeks old. I had no idea that this would be part of my life. Oh! But I was in store for a lot more. Anyway a deal was made I was bought for five thousand dollars and at that time that was a lot of money for a puppy with boarding and expenses. I was to stay with the Davino’s till I was 10 months old. To go through the process of getting all my shots and microchipped. During my waiting period Marie taught me puppy agility oh, the fun I had. I would wake up every morning anticipating running ’round the course in the Davino’s backyard. When the time came for me to leave my new dad Jeff flew all the way from Honolulu. I was so happy to see him again! He spent four days there and on the weekend I was entered at my first dog show it was somewhere on Long Island. I can vaguely remember I was only 10 months old. Marie showed me. Before the shelties was scheduled to go in Marie made such a fuss over me brushing, spraying and powdering me. She even painted my face with a white line going straight down the middle of my forehead. I was entered in my age group and I won. Then I went in the ring again and to my surprise I won Best of Winners! Wow! I couldn’t believe it. Jeff and Marie were so happy. They said that I was pointed winning 1 point. The next morning there were a lot of scurrying ’round the house. I didn’t know it but they were getting me ready for a life changer. I got put into an airline kennel. We had a long drive to the airport. The airport was in Newark New Jersey. I overheard Marie and Jeff talking ’bout how long of a flight it was going to be 11 hours none stop to Honolulu. It was scary as soon as Marie stop her van she talk to one of the airport baggage person he lifted me and my kennel up and took me away. I remember barking and whining trying to say “Hey what’s going on! Does anyone hear me, doesn’t anyone care! Help!” Eventually I calm down and went to sleep I was exhausted from barking. The plane finally landed. I was so happy to see Jeff again. He drove me to my new home and I met my new family. I met Arnold he was a 10 year old sheltie. Arnold introduced himself to me by sniffing my butt. After he checked me over he told me he was ailing. Arnold told me he had cancer that he was living on borrowed time. He already knew my name even before I or anyone said anything. He said; “Kid you’re going to have to grow up fast, you’re going to take my place and be the next Loyalty Officer for Central Pacific Bank” I must’ve had this puzzled look on my face. Arnold repeated it again. Then he said tomorrow morning we have to meet with an advertising agency. After that we’re going to the bank. To meet the bank President Clint Arnoldus. Ok! I was game it sounded like fun. In the mean time I had fun that evening I met my new dog family they were four Bearded Collies the oldest was George he was the grumpy one. After I heard ’bout all his accomplishments in the obedience ring. I honored him by staying out of his way. ‘Cuz I respected him. Next was Maggie, she was a breed champion. She was so beautiful and moved boy! She could move. She looked like she was floating every time she gaited. Maggie’s daughter Amanda and I are only three months apart in age. She still acts and look’s like a cute puppy. The other girl was Brianne she later went on to live with the Arnoldus family in Utah. Arnold fell ill and the cancer took him. I was saddened. Arnold’s mother BJ was 15 years old. She was still pretty sharp for her age. Whenever she heard the word cookie! She would perk up and be the first in the receiving line. So here I am a 10 month old puppy untrained to do what was expected of me. I became Central Pacific Bank’s next Alex, the bank’s Loyalty Officer. I became a TV actor doing bank commercials. I was also the bank’s spokesperson doing personal appearances and photo shoots. I was having the time of my life. I was well taken care of by the bank and I got paid. Since the bank could’nt pay me directly ‘cuz I’m a sheltie to make it legal they made Jeff the Assistant to the Loyalty Officer. I thought that hilarious having my dad working for me. That was short lived Alison wanted to move back to Weston Massachusetts were she was born. Her mom and dad were up in their years. So here I am going back to the east coast. This time the trip was different. Alison bought us an RV. We flew to LA to pick it up. Going cross country for the first time on wheels. We made a lot of stops along the way. The Beardies were entered in dog shows. We stopped and visited as many National Parks as we could. It was totally amazing traveling to Yosemite, Crater Lake, Zion, Bryce Canyon and Yellowstone. There were more. I’m getting tired just thinking ’bout them all. Well! We got to Weston but my family of dogs were never allowed in the house. Alison’s mother was allergic to dogs. So we had to live in our RV for two years. Along the way. Going across I forgot to mention we picked up my little sister Samantha she’s a Toy Fox Terrier. Sammie and I became the best of friends. I would always watch over her protecting her from other dogs that wanted to cause her harm and I still do. While living in Weston Jeff would take us all in the backyard for daily training sessions. I got pretty good at doing Novice and Open obedience. So came the day when we entered our first trial. I got a 1st then another 1st. Wow! I was having fun again yippee ! Then I entered my first UKC obedience trial. It’s done a little different then AKC. Jeff was a nervous wreck! If I could talk. I would’ve said Jeff trust me. Well! That day we gained respect as we got High in Trial. We had so much fun and excitement. As we campaign trial after trial blue ribbon after blue ribbon. We did have a few red and yellow ribbons. Like the time we went to Vermont the biggest obedience trial we ever entered in. Top competitors from all over the states and Canada. Maggie and I were in Novice B. There were over 60 dogs with their handlers competing in our class. Maggie went in first then me. When the scores were given out we got second and third with a 198 1/2 and a 197 1/2 Maggie beat me. I was so happy for her Maggie was 9 years old and she
deserved it. We went on competing all over New England. Once in Union Maine we competed in a four day obedience trial out of the four events I achieved 3 High in trials.
Besides obedience Maggie and I enjoyed agility and sheepherding trials. Both of us have agility titles and both of us qualified for our PT in sheepherding. I just love to reminisce. Now here we are back in Honolulu, Hawaii. Those years my family and I spent on the mainland. I’ll always cherish and treasure. Jeff will sometimes sit with me. He’ll say; “Well boy! We had a marvelous life didn’t we Alex! “… ❤️