The Villages - October 2019 - 38

{ FOR THE

OF PETS }

Stuart & Susan Feinberg's

Maximus The Mighty Mascot
STORY BY RICA LEWIS | PHOTOS BY ROB WILKERSON
He's a brawny boy with a meaty neck, stout legs and a splendid set of
chops. An English bulldog with champion blood lines, Maximus commands
the crowds. But don't judge a bulldog by his burly gait.
"He looks tough, but he just wants attention - to love and be loved,"
said Susan Feinberg. Susan and her husband Stuart found Maximus after
their first bulldog passed away. The Bossman was a beefy boy like Maximus
who acquired his name by being the boss of the litter. At doggy daycare, The
Bossman kept his peers in line, ensuring they behaved for the staff.
"Bulldogs tend to like people more than dogs," Susan said. "They own
their people. When the other dogs misbehaved, Bossman took charge."
When it came time to add another English bully to the family, the Feinbergs
heard about a breeder in Miramar and went to look at puppies.
"Maximus was about 6 months old," Stuart said. "He was undergoing
training to be a show dog. He wasn't for sale but when I saw him, I knew I
had to have him."
Susan notes it took an hour to persuade the breeder to let him go. "I said,
you have enough champion dogs. Let us give him a good home."
Maximus got that and more. In The Villages, he's a beloved member of
various clubs. He was just eight months old when he debuted for an audience.
"He performed for the first time with the Dynamic Dog Club drill team at
the polo field," Susan said. "He loves to dance."
Like his predecessor, The Bossman, Maximus is a
confident and courageous leader. But after a full
day of therapy work and social outings, he's happy
to sprawl out on a pool float or snuggle up with
his parents in his Village of Pennecamp home.
And while he knows the basics of showdog etiquette, Maximus prefers to use those
skills to strut for Villages residents. As a
reading education assistance dog, he helps
little ones who struggle to read. At local car
shows, he represents the Village Vettes
Corvette Club as their official club mascot.
"When we collected over $4,000 worth
of food for The Humane Society, we took a
photo of him in the truck with all the food," Susan
said. "He goes to many events because he just loves to
be around people."
As a testament to his popularity, a chorus of Camp
Villages kids recently serenaded him with a welldeserved birthday song.
At 8 years old, Maximus is a senior that earned his
clout.

38

OCTOBER 2019
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