Introducing Katy, the newest four-legged on-screen “participant” at Gentle Yogis.
It’s been over two years since we said goodbye to dear Loki, our big black lovable Lab. We have missed him deeply and we weren’t actively looking for another dog—our hearts weren’t quite sure they were ready. Plus, with producing the teacher training this winter/spring and a big trip coming up end of April, we knew it was best to wait until summer to even begin to consider another dog. But, you know, life just happens.
In late January, a friend was admitted to the hospital, leaving behind Katy—her late husband’s 7-year-old, 75-pound pup—in urgent need of care. Without hesitation, Joyce drove 40 minutes north to pick her up, knowing Katy had some anxiety and behavioral challenges. Our friend had struggled to care for Katy since her husband fell ill several years ago and passed away 20 months ago, so it quickly became clear that Katy might not be able to return to her original home.
As we searched for a family to adopt Katy, we were upfront about her issues—perhaps too honest—because no one stepped forward. Meanwhile, Katy slowly started settling into our home, reshaping our routines in good ways. Over time, we realized we were “ready enough” to begin our next dog chapter.
So, we made it official—Katy is now part of our family. And, just between us (wink, wink), her full name is now Katarina Mae Florence Peirce or KatyMae for short. She is the fifth dog to join us in our 32 years of marriage, and, like all the others, she is a rescue. Unlike the four before her—who were all boys and all Labrador Retrievers or Lab mixes—Katy brings something new. She’s not a big cuddler, but she has her very sweet moments and easily found her way into our hearts.
If you take a class with Rudy or Joyce, you might catch more than a glimpse of Katy on-screen. And if all you see is her back end near the plants, don’t worry—she’s not eating them. She’s just hiding and licking the air (one of her unique anxiety quirks).
We’re working with fabulous trainers who apprenticed under Kevin Behan, the creator of Natural Dog Training, a method that respects the dog’s innate wildness and channels their energy in healthy ways rather than forcing them to suppress it. Kevin was a beautiful spiritual being who helped us with our third dog.
For now, we’re letting Katy settle in, giving her as many joyful experiences as possible—squeaky toys, balls to chase, great food, long walks through our village and nearby woods, and plenty of things to chew on. We’re also hand-feeding her, an important step in helping her to rebuild trust in humans and to feel safe in her new environment. The structured training will begin when our trainer determines that she’s ready, but for now, we’re focused on helping her simply feel at home.
Katy wasn’t in our plans, but sometimes the best things in life aren’t planned.
