This month we’re celebrating Penny, a 9-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel under the care of Hannah Pet Parent Emalee Rabinovitch. Emalee was nice enough to answer a few questions for us on behalf of her furry best friend, and we’re happy to learn that Penny is the same wonderful Pet at home as she is when she visits Hannah.

From a chance encounter in a shopping mall to a decade of bonded companionship, Penny’s story is a great reminder of the positive impact of the hard work and dedication of Hannah’s earliest team members.

Hannah: How long have you had Penny, and how long has Penny been on the Hannah plan?

Emalee: We have had Penny since she was about 12 weeks old and she has been on the Hannah plan her whole life! We originally got her when Hannah had their storefront in Washington Square.

We were back to school shopping with my mom and saw a large crowd in the middle of the mall. I told my mom I wanted to see what was happening and walked through and saw a man holding the two cutest puppies I had ever seen in my life. I vividly remember turning to my mom and saying “we are taking one of those home” and here we are 9 years later!

What most convinced you that Hannah was the right fit for you and Penny?

There are a lot of factors that played into us staying with Hannah for this long but the main one was the level of care Penny has received and the convenience. We’ve loved Hannah so much that my brother has a cat, Potato, that is a Hannah pet and my mom recently just got a new puppy we will be enrolling in the plan soon!

Have any health concerns come up during your time with us that we were particularly able to help make better, or ease your mind?

Unfortunately, yes, but Hannah has been there every step of the way! Penny has had multiple issues over the course of her life. She had to get surgery on her bladder a couple years ago. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without the Hannah plan. She’s had smaller issues pop up over the years – eating things she shouldn’t (like my plants and a whole loaf of chocolate chip banana bread) but Hannah has been there every step of the way to help us when we need it!

Do you have any other pets at home? How does Penny interact with them?

I don’t, but my mom and brother do and she spends a lot of time at their house! My brother has a cat, named Potato, that Penny will interact with every once and a while but otherwise they keep their distance. We describe it as they “tolerate” each other. My mom also recently just got a puppy and Penny has made it clear she is not happy about it! She has been working on setting her boundaries with the puppy but is still patient with her.

What are your favorite things about Penny? How would you describe her personality?

It’s really hard to put Penny’s personality into words! She is unlike any dog we’ve ever had before and sometimes we describe her as more cat-like or a grumpy old lady. She likes her sleep and her fuzzy bed. She’s never really had an interest in playing. She has a whole bucket of toys we’ve bought her that she has never touched once.

She LOVES people. If we take her to a dog park or a farmers’ market, she will pay no attention to the other dogs but go straight to get pets from the people. She snores so loud – louder than some people! She loves the beach but hates the water. She’s extremely food motivated and knows her food schedule to the second. If we are even a minute late to feed her, she will let you know she’s upset with you. She cuddles, but only on her terms and when she’s in the mood. She hates baths but loves to be blow dried. She loves going for car rides and getting pup cups. Overall, she’s a great dog and we are lucky to have her!

If you’re interested in having your Pet featured as next month’s Hannah Pet of the Month, please reach out and send us email at this address.