MONKS is the 200lb Gentle Giant of Del Ray’s East Howell Avenue
April 16th, 2008 Categories: Del Ray, Doggone It
Name: Monks (with an ’s’)
Age: 4 going on 5
Weight: 200lbs (I eat less than you think)
Folks Who Take Care of Me: Denise and Dave
Siblings: None
Sleeping Arrangements: My own futon
Likes: Belly rubs, cheese, Puppy Pops from the Dairy Godmother, kitty cats, most everybody in the neighborhood.
Dislikes: Fruits and vegetables and walking fast.
Profile: Slow moving, patient and obedient, I am very good with children, extremely loyal, friendly, highly intelligent and easy to train (or so they tell me).
About me: The name St. Bernard comes from a traveler’s hospice on the St. Bernard Pass in the Western Alps between Switzerland and Italy. The pass, the hospice and the dogs who came to live there were named after Bernard of Menthon, an 11th century monk who founded the station. Be sure and look at the picture of my red and white hospice collar with my St. Bernard medallion.
My ancestors include the herding, hunting and watchdogs of Switzerland, primarily the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. Many of the original St. Bernard’s were killed in an avalanche and to help get the line started again, we were crossed with Newfoundland’s in the early 1800’s. It worked pretty well except that the Newf’s had longer, curlier hair and icicles would get caught in it. The monks decided just to use those of us with a smooth coat for rescue work. I’m not sure what happened to the other guys.
Famous St. Bernard’s: Bolivar, Donald Duck’s pet; Gumbo, the mascot for the New Orleans Saints; Nana from the Peter Pan movies; Cujo from Steven King’s book; and, of course, Beethoven from the movie of the same name.
I know just about everybody in Del Ray so the next time you see me I hope you’ll stop and say hello. Thanks, Michael for letting me be on your blog.
Monks
