This week’s furry friend is Rhoda, the 7-year-old German Shepherd belonging to Elizabethtown College junior Destiny Jones.
Jones’ parents bought Rhoda from a breeder when she was just 8 weeks old, despite Jones’ distaste for them. “We got her from a breeder,” Jones said. “I can’t say I’m a fan of breeders, but I was like 14, it wasn’t really my choice.”
If Jones’ parents had not made the decision, she would not have her best friend. Rhoda lives on Etown’s campus with Jones, providing constant companionship, laughs and cuddles. “I think my favorite thing about having her on campus is growing up with her,” Jones said. “We get to share the same experience. She pushes me to actually get up and go outside and go on hikes with her.”
Despite their active lifestyle, Rhoda does struggle with arthritis. One of the few challenges they faced on campus was getting a first-floor dorm. “Getting a first-floor accommodation was practically impossible for the first two years,” Jones said. “She’s got arthritis, so the stairs are hard for her. I’m finally on the first floor this year, it has drastically improved both our lives.”
Rhoda is shy but eccentric and certainly has her fair share of quirks. “She likes to carry around really big sticks,” Jones said. “I mean, she’ll even attack and try to rip down trees because she thinks it’s just a really big stick, and she wants it.”
However, bark isn’t her only food of choice. Rhoda enjoys munching on whole cucumbers and can often be found grazing, doing her part to protect native grass species in the area. “She likes the taste of certain grasses,” Jones said. “Specifically Japanese stiltgrass.”
Despite her grass obsession, Rhoda’s favorite food is hands down raw eggs. “She sees me grab eggs out of the carton and she stares at me until she gets one,” Jones said. Rhoda is not fed a raw diet, but she enjoys the occasional raw egg being mixed into her kibble. Jones complies with Rhoda’s sunny-side demands as they are rich in protein and contain omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in reducing inflammation and improving the condition of the skin and coat.
Rhoda’s favorite activities include swimming and playing in the snow. Jones can even recall the exact moment Rhoda found her love of the water. “One of my favorite trips with her was when we drove up to Toronto and explored the Scarborough Bluffs,” Jones said. “That was the first time she’s seen waves. She jumped a little at the first one, but ever since then, she loves water.”
Rhoda’s true purpose is to be there for Jones as her emotional support animal for anxiety. Since Rhoda also struggles with anxiety, it is often a query of Jones’ whether Rhoda is her emotional support animal or if she is Rhoda’s. “She was kind of gotten as an emotional support dog,” Jones said. “I don’t know, I had some issues and she fixed me.”
