A Couple of Pussycats Are in the Doghouse : These Pooches Would Rather Frolic Than Fight

Any boss would love them. They are polite, friendly, deal well with the public and work for almost nothing. But the Cultural Heritage Foundation is firing two of its employees for having just those attributes.

Crystal and Moose, two part-German shepherds, were hired to be ferocious guard dogs, but they ended up being pussycats on the job. They’d rather frolic with intruders than attack them, and about the only thing they’ve put the bite on in the last few years is the kibble in their supper dish.

The two dogs, who were once strays, were employed by the foundation to guard the eight historical Victorian homes perched along the banks of Arroyo Seco five miles north of downtown. The houses, which are ringed by a six-foot-high fence, are being restored by the nonprofit foundation’s volunteers. The site, called Heritage Square, is an architectural monument to the city’s Victorian past.

But according to Julia Hurn, the foundation’s associate director, the dogs evidently thought they were hiring on as mere house-sitters.

“They sit around a lot. They chase squirrels. They play with children. They eat chili burgers. They do bark . . . but it’s more like a warm, welcoming bark,” she said, rolling her eyes.

Given Their Pink Slips

So in spite of their lengthy tenure, the dogs have been given their pink slips. They’ve been replaced by security guards of the two-legged variety, and they’ve got until the end of the month to find a retirement home.

Hurn is looking for someone to adopt the dogs. But not just anyone.

Applicants who are interested in owning the dogs will be screened and the proposed new home inspected. The adoption agreement will forbid the new owners from giving the dogs away or using them for research.

‘And we don’t want anyone to take them thinking they will be guard dogs. They are too gentle and loving,” Hurn says. And if possible, she would like them to be able to stay together. “But if it’s a choice between separating the two of them, or the pound, well of course, we’d consider it.”

Moose, who is now 7, was the first to arrive for duty at Heritage Square, about six years ago. His father, who had often accompanied a volunteer worker to the square, fell in love with a German shepherd down the street. Moose was the result of that romance. The volunteer convinced the staff that the puppy would be a great guard dog. But they chose the wrong dog for the job. “Moose is really very shy. He likes to hide in his doghouse when strangers are around,” Hurn explained.

Crystal, who is 4, arrived at the park when someone tossed her over the fence to get rid of her. Volunteers once again thought they had the makings of a watchdog. But Crystal had other ideas. She grew up to be a ballplayer.

The work schedule has not been extremely stressful or demanding. The only trouble at the park has been an occasional intrusion by neighborhood youngsters. And the dogs could probably argue that they’ve earned their $20 worth of dog food a month, since their mere presence may have been a factor in deterring vandalism and burglary at the park.

“Crystal and Moose are alert and give the impression that they are patrolling,” Hurn acknowledged.

The highlight of their career came the morning that a maintenance worker found the two dogs frolicking with a group of teen-age boys who had jumped over the fence. “The dogs were barking all right--for joy,” Hurn said.

Painful Decision

Even though it was a painful decision, Hurn said that foundation officials decided they could no longer afford mascots who didn’t earn their keep. Instead, they hired a security service to supply guards to watch the historic homes, which will collectively be worth about $2 million when restoration is complete. Restoration on the Hale House alone, which recently won a national interior design award--cost $300,000. The nonprofit foundation gets money for the work from private donations and grants. With construction work on the historic buildings being stepped up and more visitors expected at the park, it was deemed a good time to find the dogs a real home of their own, Hurn said.

“I’d like to find someone with a big farm or at least a big yard, someone who might give them an education, some obedience training,” said Hurn, patting the big, cuddly dogs as they lolled on the grass in the shade after a romp with their toys.

“And, of course, we want someone who will give them a lot of love.”