6 Saber Tails Spring 2017

Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America

Meet Our Members

W

ith each quarterly edition of Saber Tails, we want to introduce members of our club.  We have prepared a set of ques-

tions for each person to answer to help members get to know other PBGV Lovers.  Our membership is comprised of 

such unique people from all over the world with a wide variety of experiences.  But we all have one thing in common - We 

LOVE Our PBGVs.  This month, meet Mendy Marshall, Jill Otto and Lynne Florian.

Mendy Marshall

I 

currently live in Austin, Texas with my partner Karen. I’ve 

always loved animals. I wanted to be a vet when I went to 

college but found out quickly that I didn’t have the mind 

for the science. I got my degree in Recreation from Okla-

homa State University.

 

I 

worked for the City of Austin Parks and Recreation De-

partment for 30 years and re-

tired in 2011. After I complet-

ed my after retirement project 

list I found out that most ev-

erything I wanted to do cost 

money (home improvement 

projects, travel, shopping). So, 

I went back to work part-time 

with the Parks and Recreation 

Department. I now have the 

perfect job. I have a very flex-

ible work schedule, enjoy the 

people I work with and the 

projects I’m assigned. I’m mak-

ing a little extra cash and it has 

gotten me out of the house. In 

the winter time we like to attend the University of Texas 

Women’s basketball games. I’d say we are avid fans and 

are excited to say that they have been having a great sea-

son. I also enjoy gardening, cooking, attending plays and 

concerts and watching sports and other shows on TV.

J

amars Milagro arrived in Austin, Texas on February 5, 

2004. She was my first PBGV, who unfortunately passed 

away on December 30, 2014. She was a typical PBGV, she 

gave sweet kisses (all the way up my nose), dragged any 

clothing items she found on the floor to the back yard, 

rolled in anything that smelled on our walks. She loved 

the water. I swam after her several times when she went 

after ducks and swam ½ way across the pond. She loved 

my brother in-law’s lily pond even though she wasn’t 

supposed to get in it. She would eat anything and every-

thing....and so much more.

 

W

anderlands Marco Polo (Murphy) arrived on an air-

plane along with a casket (which was weird) on July 

15, 2005. The casket was NOT 

part of Murphy's luggage. He is 

the total opposite. I have a pup-

py picture of him with his litter 

mates where they are all playing 

and he is off to the side watching. 

He does that to this day. I have to 

beg him for kisses and give him 

attention even when he doesn’t 

want it. He turns 14 on March 

15th. Nowadays he sleeps a lot, 

but still enjoys our nightly walks. 

He has some minor health issues 

and his joints have gotten stiff. 

He can’t jump up on the couch 

anymore and has trouble going up 

and down steps but he greets everyone that comes to the 

house at the door demanding to be petted but then goes 

back to sleep.

  

I 

am a PBGV “pet” owner. I found out about the breed 

from my sister who went to a dog show and discovered 

the breed and fell in love. She got Gypsy soon after that. 

I decided I wanted one too, so I got on the PBGV web site 

and started looking for one that needed to be rescued or 

rehomed. Long story short I found Sheila Schweit of Wan-

derland PBGV. She was looking for a home for Murphy 

who was living with a couple that had a home on a golf 

course. Needless to say he welcomed all the golfers with 

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