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Workplace Stone Garden | Job Title Greeter & Inventory Control
Border Collies Cammie and Digit find that a team
Names Digit (left) and Cammie
approach works best when it comes to managing affairs
at the Stone Garden.
Cammie, a seven-year-old female, runs the business
end of things, serving as protector of the grounds. “Every morning,
when she comes in, she does a quick lap around the yard to make
sure nothing is out of place or amiss,” says Nina Brown, owner of
Stone Garden. “She likes for everything to be in order.” If it’s not,
Cammie will give Brown a gentle poke to get her attention. Once
morning rounds are complete, Cammie heads to the office for the first
cookie of the day. Next, it’s on to business as usual — helping custom-ers
play fetch. “Cammie is a little ball obsessed,” Brown admits.
Meanwhile, after his morning cookie, five-year-old Digit (named for
his unique right paw, which has six toes and seven toenails) warms
up to start his demanding and important duties as head greeter. “He
Owner Nina Brown
is the sweetest Border Collie I’ve ever had,” says Brown. “He is very,
very friendly, and he lets kids hang all over him.” Digit is also in tune
with his breed’s instincts, regularly herding the forklift to keep it in
line. What’s more, he delights visitors by spinning around in circles,
mimicking any wheels or circular saws that happen to be in motion
on the grounds.
Cammie and Digit are the two latest in Brown’s brood of rescued
Border Collies who have been an integral part of the Stone Garden
staff. Brown says there have always been at least two to three Borders
at work there, and at one point there were five. “I’ve gotten them
all through rescue groups, and they all have wonderful quirks,” says
Brown. “But I couldn’t imagine being here without them.”
Even the shop’s logo has a Border Collie on it. “These dogs
are an important part of the Stone Garden’s unique identity,”
Brown explains.
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Allison bREINER pOTTER
Allison bREINER pOTTER