Owner: Nora Feeley, director of marketing and communications, Silverado Vineyards
Location: Mill Valley, Calif.
Dog Name: Chug
Age: 7
Breed: Chihuahua-Pug mix
In a Word: Napoleon
Job Title: Zoom companion, walking buddy and recipe taster
Star Quality: I take the fifth on whether my dog is cozy in bed, but he does have convincing eyes and he “talks” by opening his mouth without barking.
Favorite Reward: Cheese. Unfortunately I let him try caviar once (just licking the empty tin!) and given his druthers, that’s his favorite.
Favorite Getaway: Walking along the water in the Strawberry neighborhood of Mill Valley, Calif. We don’t allow dogs at Silverado Vineyards and he respects the rules.
Forgivable Flaw: He snores. He barks. He begs. I suppose it is all forgivable since I love him.
Background Story: My parents were in their nineties and their dog passed away. My father, who used to walk him, said literally and figuratively, “I have no reason to get up in the morning anymore.” As a result, I found them Chug the rescue dog. (He's named for his breed, not his ability to drink!) They weren’t thrilled at first, but then they fell in love. My mother had a stroke and my father passed away and I promised them I would take on Chug, although I wasn’t planning on having a dog child as a full-time working single mom. But now, he is family.
