Law office dog honored as ‘ultimate companion’

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Friday is “Take your dog to work day.”

If your pooch or pup needs some pointers on proper office decorum, it probably couldn’t find better role models than Aldo and Zara.

Aldo and Zara are purebred Spinone Italiano show dogs who also hang out at the law offices of Eggert, Erb, Kuehner and DeBower in Charles City. They are owned by Duane and Pam Folz of Floyd.

Pam Folz is a legal assistant at the law office, and has been working there for about a year and a half.

She said she and Duane are actively involved in showing their dogs, doing obedience competitions with them, and they have pet therapy certifications on them.

“During my job interview, my dogs came up, and they had said, ‘You know, that would be great if they could come to the office,’” Folz said.

“Well, little did they know that that was actually going to happen,” she said.

“The clients love the dogs. People are here for a variety of reasons, and when people are upset they brought them comfort. Actually, when the dogs aren’t here when people come in they’re asking, ‘Where are they?’”

Folz laughed and said, “Sometimes I think the only reason they keep me here is because of the dogs.”

At first, when Folz started going to work she brought Riley, another Spinone, with her, and Riley’s work at the law office contributed to him winning a national award.

The Folzes have been members of the Spinone Club of America for about 14 years, and through their activities with that club, Riley was nominated for the Cos Cup, given annually to “the ultimate companion dog.”

Club awards were announced at the recent Spinone Club of America national meeting in Colorado, and Riley won.

Unfortunately, Riley is no longer with us.

“He passed away last November,” Folz said. “Riley was 13½ — that’s a lot for a big dog. He lived a good life.”

She said that after Riley died, Aldo and Zara stepped into his position as the law office greeters, mascots and companions.

Zara may need to take a break from her duties soon, though.

“Zara is going to have puppies next week,” Folz said. “She’s very much due.”

The Folzes get to keep Riley’s Cos Cup trophy for a year, before they return it at the next Spinone Club national meeting, to be awarded to the next year’s winner.

During the year the trophy will be displayed at the law office, in honor of Riley’s service.

“He took this job seriously. He was the ultimate office dog,” Folz said. “Even the last week that he was here, it was tougher for him to get up and down, but every time that doorbell rang he made sure that he greeted each and every client.

“He got mad when we weren’t here on weekends,” she said.

Duane Folz laughed and said, “You know what’s frustrating is having a dog want to go to work on Mondays and you don’t.”