Kathy Colnar & Tank

Who is in the photo at right?

Tank is the handsome 7-year-old male Lhasa Apso. I am Tank's Assistant (aka Kathy Colnar) and seated beside him in the photo. My husband and I live with Tank in Overland Park, KS which is in the Greater Kansas City area. We have 2 grown children. Our daughter and son-in-law are in KC while our son lives in Omaha, NE. As Tank's Assistant, I'm responsible for helping him with daily tasks such as meal preparation, transportation, grooming etc. As you can imagine this leaves me little time for other activities, but I do squeeze in some volunteer work. Tank and I also enjoy spending time with my 91 year old mother. The staff at her assisted living home refer to him as "Grace's granddog" and he loves to roam the long halls collecting head pats and milk-bones!

What's the occasion for Coffee with a Canine?

Each new day is an occasion! We start with the daily newspaper. It's important to stay informed so we read about local and world events. His political leanings and opinions on social problems are eerily similar to mine. We save "Peanuts" to lighten our mood after the serious stuff.

What's brewing?

Yuban Original for me. Tank's beverage of choice is water straight from the tap. We're not hard to please.

Any goodies for you or Tank to go with the coffee?

I'm having an English muffin with strawberry preserves while Tank is enjoying Sweet Potato Snax sold by Doctors Foster and Smith. One of his blog pals sent him some of these and they are now on his list of favorites although cookie still holds the top spot.

How were you and your dog united?

About 4 years ago Tank had to let his previous assistant go. She had health problems and was no longer able to meet his needs. He found temporary housing and sent out an e-mail in search of a new assistant. I wasn't really looking for employment at the time, but when I saw his picture and read about his situation, I felt compelled to send in an application. I didn't find out until later that there were several people interested in the position. He chose me because I showed initiative in being the first respondent.

Tank is an interesting name for a dog--where did it come from? Any aliases?

He allowed me to rename him. When we first met, he was a whopping 28.5 pound... well, tank! That's huge for a Lhasa Apso. I'm happy to report that he is now down to 19 pounds thanks to a strict feeding schedule and lots of exercise. I suppose the name doesn't fit too well anymore, but he'll always be Tank to me.

Cat, squirrel, postman...?

Not sure about the cat, the postman is safe, but the squirrel is definitely in trouble!

Tennis ball, squeaky-toy, stick...?

He won't chase a ball, could care less about any kind of toy unless there's a treat hidden inside, and a stick is just... a stick.

Where is Tank's favorite place for outings?

The Overland Park Botanical Garden and Arboretum! We're so lucky to have this great place close-by. There's an asphalt walking path for dogs plus numerous mulched hiking trails through a forest of trees. A creek meanders peacefully nearby with rickety old bridges to cross. Squirrels and birds are plentiful and occasionally deer will cross your path. It's a magical place for a dog (and human!) Since he's marked almost every tree and bush in the entire place, he now feels it belongs to him and everyone else is trespassing!

Who are Tank's best pet-pals?

There's a dog in our neighborhood named Maggie. Although Tank is a confirmed bachelor, he and Maggie seem to enjoy each others company.

What is Tank's best quality?

You mean besides not shedding?? That's definitely #1! My husband and I are both crazy about this spunky little dog. He's got lots of personality and is the perfect fit for a couple of empty-nesters.

What is Tank's proudest moment? Most embarrassing?

I would have to guess that his proudest moment was when he realized he could swim. It was in a muddy pond at a nearby dog park... he saw the big dogs all cooling off in the pond, so he decided to give it a try. Thank goodness I had my camera with me because my husband would never have believed it without proof!

As far as being embarrassed, just put a hat on him and he'll hang his head in shame. He seems to know instinctively that this makes dogs look very silly! Otherwise he's just happy to be alive and looks forward to each day!

Visit Tank's Two Cents blog and Facebook page.

--Marshal Zeringue