Dog of the Month, March 2018: Habipti
Dogs are not bound by language, nationality, religion, or race. Dogs know love, which transcends all differences. And a better example couldn’t be found than our March 2018 Dog of the Month, Habipti. Pronounced ha-BIP-tee, this sweet Boston Terrier’s name is an Arabic word that’s a term of affection, like my sweetheart or my beloved. “My best friend is Egyptian-American, and she taught me the word,” explains owner Molly Dalessandro.
Molly, her husband, Scott, and their daughters, Penny (age 6) and Mona (age 3) have been bringing Habipti to Rainier Veterinary Hospital since they moved to the area in March 2015. Before that, the Dalessandro family has been globetrotting—from Seattle to Washington, DC, to South Africa, back to DC, to Spain, and then back to Seattle. “Habipti is a well-traveled doggy!” Molly says.
Of course, Habipti has been along for the whole journey, as the couple adopted her in June 2006 when this sweet pooch was just 12 weeks old. Now almost 12, Habipti is still full of energy and has not changed her goofy personality one bit.
“She loves to play with tennis balls and a squeaky duck,” Molly says. “When Penny was born, Scott brought Habipti a special rubber goose toy, which she still goes absolutely crazy for. She plays with it nonstop until we take it away, mostly because the honking sound is just awful! We have to keep it on the top of a cupboard where she can’t see it, so that she won’t beg us to get it down.”
When not “goosing” around, Habipti can be found, well, hiding in plain sight. “She’s a big burrower and loves to sleep in her special cozy cave bed,” Molly says. “But Habipti is happiest when she’s sitting on someone’s lap, under a blanket.”
Also answering to Ha-boo-boo, Bipti, Bips, and Little Froggy (the latter by Molly’s brother), Habipti does have a stubborn streak. “After all this time, we still cannot get her to walk without pulling on the leash,” Molly says, adding that Penny and Mona both like to “help” take Habipti for walks. In addition, Habipti will perform a few tricks—sit, down, stay, and ballerina—but only if liver treats are provided. “She’s always very excited when people come to the house,” Molly says, “and she definitely remembers people who she likes.”
Well, we’re honored that Habipti likes us, because we’re definitely some of her biggest fans! Thanks, Dalessandro family, for being a part of the Rainier Vet family.
About Our Dog of the Month Program
How our Dog of the Month program works: Each staff member provides a nomination for the distinguished honor, and then we vote. The highest vote wins! Any pup who visits us during the prior month is eligible.
