Guest Post by Dennis Kalup, Manager and Lifelong Honorary Minder (AKA “Auntie Dennis”)
A wise person once said, “All good things must come to an end.” Accepted to be a universal truth, it doesn’t make saying goodbye any easier. Most people would probably acknowledge leaving a job as two parts scary, three parts exciting, and one part stressful. I can’t say that many would describe it as a flood of emotions and mild heartbreak. This is because most people aren’t Monster Minders.
I had no idea what sort of a grand adventure I was in for when a charismatic Kiwi approached me in December of 2008. After some email exchanges, 3 weeks, and an interview in which I served as a throw pillow for a great dane, I was slated to become the next addition to a team of amazing people. I was overwhelmed and honored when I was asked to become the first “Monster Minders Manager” (which I still enjoy saying three times fast). Being the oldest Minder on staff, I quickly became the staff “Auntie” and cherished giving my advice and experience to new staff and old staff alike.
Nothing can prepare you for the joy that comes from working with dogs on a daily basis. Often I have wished I could take people out of their other jobs for even a week so they could experience the magic that I do on a daily basis. Watching an energetic puppy grow to be a stalwart hound, clapping and cheering when a dog learns a new trick or command, the wonder of a dog exploring a new place; these are my job perks.
I have learned much more about myself and the world in the past four years than I ever imagined. Volunteering with shelter dogs, helping the humans that belong to my dog clients learn about their quirks and needs, watching as my “city dogs” go to live in the suburbs and graduate to their own big back yard are just some of the amazing experiences. The joy of dogs knows no mitigating factors, no qualifying or thought of consequence. It just is, and it is infectious.
Not all learning comes from joy, and I think some of my most valuable touchstone moments have been helping elderly dogs, cleaning up messes in the house and sadly having to bid farewell to some of my most beloved clients. I have shed some tears in the past four years, but I have always been accompanied on my grief by some of my other four legged pals, who deal with my turmoil by planting a big wet sloppy kiss on my cheek. Dog slobber heals all wounds.
I don’t think any job will ever resonate with me as much as this one. I have spoken with others in my profession, and I tell them that I don’t even think of it as a job anymore. I have come to calling it my “lifestyle” because that seems a much more apt description of what we do. I don’t know what the future holds for me career wise, but I know I will always have this chapter to look upon with the fondest of memories.
Watching the Monster Minders grow and expand since my first days on staff has been an epic journey. I have been honored to be a part of it, to help nurture and teach, and to have so many loving experiences with the dogs of our fair city. I will miss all of my daily dog pals when I leave to start the new chapter of my life. It is finally starting to register that in about two weeks I won’t be taking Kemble the long way around the construction so the noises don’t bother her, or carrying Tucker down the stairs from his 3rd floor perch. I won’t see Carrie randomly in the park with Macey or Lindsay walking Maxie.
I will be in a new city, but I promise to continue to randomly talk to dogs on the street, pulling my bike over to say hello to a fetching dog, and of course doing my patented dance moves when a dog does something particularly awesome. I also promise to keep an Auntie eye on you from afar, Monster Minders. I am a Minder for life.
