CONDO PET: Lawyer finds Justice and Liberty
October 31, 2009
Janice Bradbeer
TORONTO STAR
Six and a half years ago, Allen Wassermuhl found Justice waiting for him, suitably dressed in barrister's black and white. Following Justice, comedic Liberty entered his life.
Wassermuhl had yearned for some canine company after moving into his condo loft in the Beach in July 2002.
"I wanted to save an unwanted animal," says Wassermuhl, who specializes in real estate professionals' insurance defence litigation.
So he started visiting animal shelters.
The following spring, he walked into the Toronto Humane Society after finishing court early.
"There I was, wearing my barrister's waistcoat looking like a maître d'," he recalls, when he happened upon a 10-month-old German shepherd named Bricks.
"He was the only dog not raging and barking. In fact, he looked like he had given up. I think they call it 'learned helplessness.' He was a lot bigger than what I wanted but I asked to meet him anyway. It was love at first sight."
Wassermuhl says he didn't like the name Bricks, but added a title, out of respect. "Because his markings look similar to the colour of black barrister robes and white tab collar, I called him 'The Honourable Mister Justice Bricks Wassermuhl,' or 'Justice' for short."
He took Justice home to his 1,100-square-foot, two-bedroom unit. Wassermuhl then researched everything he could find on German shepherds, or GSDs, as they are more commonly called.
"I learned very quickly that Justice had typical GSD characteristics: fiercely loyal, very emotional and affectionate, clever, intuitive, highly trainable and all around a great companion animal."
They're also "like Velcro dogs," he says, since German shepherds don't like being far from you and "as soon as you move, they jump up and follow you – everywhere."
Three years later, after cultivating an extensive network of GSD owners, breeders and rescuers, he learned about a four-month-old, rescued German shepherd puppy that was being fostered in Brewton, Ala. He agreed to take the pup with the sable coat – with his verdict to keep her resting on Justice.
At home, the youngster went straight to Justice's food bowl. Justice pounced, much to her terror, while establishing his hierarchy.
"It has been peace ever since and the two are now inseparable. I decided to call her 'Liberty' for obvious reasons," he says.
Not only are the two dogs now nose to nose, but they love cohabiting in the open-concept loft, with its 16-foot ceilings and a 420-square foot deck off the living room. "We have a ravine off the back of our building and the dogs love scouting off the deck, barking at all the squirrels and raccoons."
Wassermuhl also loves the area. The eight-unit building has no corridors or elevators, he says, so the layout is more like a townhouse than apartment.
"It's very dog-friendly, a 10-minute walk to the boardwalk and has an almost small village feel," he says, although, "the traffic is awful, especially Queen East and Kingston Rd."
Justice and Liberty have brought about a couple of transformative changes in their master.
"For one thing, I get regular walks and fresh air whether I feel like it or not," says Wassermuhl.
He also goes straight home after work to see his dogs, who love to wrestle and play in the living room.
"I used to go to a pub or restaurant with friends before going home."
It would appear that Justice has been served, while Liberty continues to have free rein over her domain.
Do you have a special pet in your condo? Bird, cat, rabbit, turtle, dog – tell us all about them. Email condos@thestar.ca and put "Condo Pet'' in the subject field. Include just one JPEG or mail a picture to us at Condo Pets, Special Sections, 1 Yonge St., 5th Floor, Toronto, M5E 1E6.
Toronto Star