Dog (And Cat) Days Of Summer

For most of those involved in college athletics,  the summer months provide a respite from the helter-skelter pace of the school year when teams are practicing, competing, travelling and going to school. Thanks to that downtime, the editors at EmoryAthletics.com discovered that some coaches, administrators and university staff have other passions away from sports and work, including their pets.

Volleyball Coach Jenny McDowell (Dogs, CJ & Bentley)

How and why did you get your dogs? 
I have had a dog my whole life and am an absolute dog lover and couldn't imagine my life without them!! 
 
Is there any story or meaning behind the names of your pets?
CJ-he was named after my last dog "Corbin"...so it was for Corbin Junior. Bentley just sounded cool

What are the worst things about your pets?  Any bad habits?
Dog HAIR in the house.....I sweep twice a day! Bentley likes to wake me up at exactly 6am no matter what day it is (including Saturdays.   CJ has a mind of his own and pretty much does whatever he wants:)

What are the best things about your pets?  Do they have any special skills or attributes?
Unconditional love no matter how grumpy I am or what time I get home! As for special skills, Bentley can eat a whole bowl of food in less than 30 seconds.  CJ is much smarter than Bentley so he can manipulate any situation between the two. 

Could your pets play volleyball? 
Absolutely...CJ is the smart setter...and Bentley is so strong that he dominates the net!  

Who on your team is most like your pets and why? 
That’s a funny question.  Amelia (McCall) is like Bentley because she is extremely caring and loving.  Natalie (Schonefeld) is like CJ -- watches, analyzes and makes the smart decision.

What's your best story of achievement or mischief that involves your pet?
Any time I am on the floor with the dogs and Bentley laying right next to me, CJ will go pick out a bone...lay it somewhere away from me, Bentley "not to smart" will get up, get the bone and then CJ steals the spot right next to me.  Sooner or later you think Bentley would catch on, but nope...still happens every day!

Men’s Basketball Coach Jason Zimmerman (Dog, Max)


How and Why did you get your pet?
We got Max from the Golden Retriever Rescue in Atlanta.  Our dog of 13 years passed in October and by April/May we were ready to have another one around the house.

Is there any story or significance to your pet’s name?
Max - I like to say it is short for Maximus in the Gladiator.  But I think my kids just liked how it sounded - no wonder he never comes when I call him Maximus.

Your pet is quite large.  Is he eating your family out of house and home?
Max’s diet is better than mine.  Traci takes care of buying his food - he eats salmon or something like that while I eat chips - must be nice.   We had to put him on a diet because when we got him he was nine months and 96 pounds - he could barely run. - With my wife walking him and my kids chasing him, he had no chance.

What are the worst things about your pet? Any bad habits?
He is still a puppy so he chews everything still and he doesn’t understand he can't eat off the counter .  The problem is he is big enough to put his head on the table so we have learned to not leave food anywhere.  The other thing is he sheds pretty bad - I used to have dark colored suits and slacks - now all my clothes are white/tan.

What are the best things about your pet? Does it have any special skills or attributes?
His best attribute is not attacking the kids when they try to ride him like a horse or pull him to their rooms.  He has an extremely relaxed demeanor and around my house that is a plus.

Could your pet play basketball for the Eagles?
Max couldn't play basketball for the Eagles yet - he couldn’t get up and down the court fast enough for the pace we play.  But he is getting better every day - Julien better look out,  Max is eyeing his spot in the rotation.

Men’s Tennis Coach John Browning (Dog, Zeus)

How and why did you get your dog? 
We love pugs, and his brother needed a companion

Is there any story or meaning behind the names of your pets?
Zeus, because he rules our house

What are the worst things about your pets?  Any bad habits?
Yes, he pees on pillows and bags

What are the best things about your pets?  Do they have any special skills or attributes?
 He’s very friendly and likes to be spooned.  As for skills, he can open the cabinet door to the trash with his paws.

Could your pet play tennis?
There’s no way he could play tennis, he cannot breathe through his nose.

Who on your team is most like your pet and why? 
Chris Goodwin, cause he likes to sleep on the couch

What's your best story of achievement or mischief that involves your pet?
 Greatest achievement is he doesn’t pee in the house anymore because he wears a doggy diaper.

Women’s Basketball Coach Christy Thomaskutty (Dog, Cooper)

How and why did you get your dog?
Cooper belonged to my brother and sister-n-law who live in downtown Baltimore. I had always said that I would take Cooper if he ever became more than they could handle. When they became pregnant with their second child, Cooper moved to the ATL.

What are the worst things about your pet? Any bad habits?
Cooper NEEDS his exercise and if he doesn’t get his exercise, he “gets crazy eyes” and can start getting out of control. Cooper also likes to “counter surf” and has eaten an entire batch of cookies straight from the oven, chicken, and butter.

What are the best things about your pet? Does it have any special skills or attributes? Cooper is half-pit/half-lab and the biggest cuddler that I have ever known. He is amazing with little kids and babies.  Cooper loves people and wants attention from anyone he meets.  If we are running and someone approaches us from the opposite direction, he will take off in a full sprint “to show off.” He loves to “play ball” and will play fetch as long as someone will throw a ball to him. Cooper also knows how to open up the back door to let himself out to play.

Could your pet play basketball?  
I wish my players had his speed and jumping ability (he once jumped up and grabbed a ball that was sitting on top of my eight foot fence).

What's your best story of achievement or mischief that involves your pet?
Cooper once grabbed and ate an entire batch of oatmeal chocolate cookies within 5 seconds, as I had removed them from the oven and he ate them when I went to remove a second batch from the oven.

Ashley DeMarco (Cat, Jack)

Okay, Ashley is a former Emory track and field athlete and served as an assistant coach.  Given that, we’ll cut her some slack and include her and her animal in this story.  Anyway, she has a good story on how she acquired her pet.

How and why did you get your cat?
I was coming home from work on a cold day and stopped to get my mail.  When I opened my car door to get back into my car, a stray cat jumped into the car, sat down and started to purr.

Is there any story or significance to your pet’s name?
My cat's name is Jack since he carjacked me while I was picking up my mail.

In looking back at it, do you think that it was fate that your cat ended up in your possession
Yes, I'm not sure why Jack picked my car to jump into that day, but maybe he is smarter than he looks and could spot an easy mark.

What are the worst things about your pet? Any bad habits?
He has a habit of rearranging my lamps and pictures; he likes them better on the floor. 

He also has a tendency of knocking over his food and water bowls.  Once the food is scattered on the kitchen floor, he scoops up his cat biscuits one by one with his paw and puts them in his mouth.

What are the best things about your pet? Does it have any special skills or attributes?
Jack is a great alarm clock.  He comes in promptly each morning after my alarm sounds to make sure I'm up and to let me know he would like his breakfast.

Could your pet be a compete in the heptathlon? What athlete does your cat remind you of?
I'm not sure that the heptathlon would suit him best. While he has some hurdling and jumping talent, he doesn't have the attention span required for seven events.  I think he would make a better gymnast, goalie, or outside hitter.  When chasing his toys, he frequently displays his ability to somersault and perform other tumbling skills.  He is also very good at swatting his ball out of the air and blocking it from going under the couch.  

Jack reminds me of Pittsburgh Steeler, Troy Polamalu.  He is very good at crashing into things without being phased, plays great defense when I go to leave in the morning, is working on developing his girth, and also has got some crazy hair like Troy.

What's your best story of achievement or mischief that involves your pet?
Jack did a great Michael Jackson impression one day.  He was on the counter helping wash the dishes/splash water everywhere and managed to get his tail a little too close to a candle.  As I was frantically trying to grab him and put it out, he whipped his tail around and the fire went out (he was not injured and I don't even think realized what had happened).  Needless to say, I don't use candles anymore.

Jack is also an avid reader.  Sometimes he knocks all of the books off the shelves of my bookcase.

Asst. Sports Information Director Jon Schwartz (Cat, Roe)

How and why did you get your cat?

I was always more of a dog person, but I have to work long hours some days, and I didn't really have the time to take care of a dog.  One of my good friends had a cat and suggested I get one as well.  So, about a year ago, I went to the Humane Society, more to look than anything, and ended up adopting Roe.

Is there a story or meaning behind the name of your pet?
Roe's full name is actually Romance.  She came from a litter of kittens who were all named after literary genres (for example, Fiction, Sci-Fi, etc.).  Rather than change her name completely, I just shortened it to 'Roe'.

What are the worst things about your pet? Any bad habits?
My only problem with Roe is that she prefers to scratch my carpeting instead of her post.  Otherwise, no complaints!

What are the best things about your pet? Does it have any special skills or attributes?
She's actually really friendly for a cat.  She loves other people, and is a big time lap cat.  Also, when she's in the mood, she even plays fetch.  I think deep down, she's a dog in a cat's body.

Would your pet be a productive worker in the Sports Information Department?
No... She's been way too spoiled to work hard! 

It is well known that you are a huge NY Mets fan.  Who on the Mets is most like your pet and why?
Between her playful personality and the fact that she runs all over my apartment, I would have to go with Jose Reyes.  Plus, they've both won the same number of World Series, to date! 

What's your best story of achievement or mischief that involves your pet?
One time, I moved her cat bed into another room in my apartment.  Well, apparently she didn't like that, because about five minutes later, she came running backwards out of the room, dragging the bed in her mouth, back to the spot it was right before! Very funny to watch in person.