Back to Fan Mail
| Colorful story of Marvin and his pal Doc
a tail to warm hearts Jan Gregory Dog Notes On any given day, there's lots of dogs quartered at the Rhode Island SPCA in East Providence. they come in all shapes and sizes, all breeds and temperments. bit there's also a dog who has the run of the place. A dog who was once a ward of the SPCA, but who now has found home with the very top guy in the organization. The dog's name is Marvin. His owner's name is E.J. Finoccgio, DVM, director of the Rhode Island SPCA. Two years ago, Marvin, a jet black Labradorretriever with a gimpy back leg, showed up at the East Providence shelter, turned in for the second time by an owner unwilling to continue care for a dog with special needs. Finocchio, who visits each dog at the shelter every morning with a biscuit in hand testing for personality and temperament, took notice of the patient Lab who would sit at the gate of his dog run waiting for the treat instead of hurling himself against the wire walls and barking madly like the other dogs. Days went by with Finocchio making his morning visits. He was impressed by this quiet animal. Thanksgiving was comin g up. Marvin was invited to the Finocchios for dinner. It had been 10 years since the Doc and his wife, Marie, had owned their first dog. They had never considered getting another. Then marvin walked in the house, greeted the guests, took up a position on the rug The amiable dog was there for keeps. Now the Lab travels daily to the SPCA where he spends the majority of his time sleeping under the Doc's desk. he shadows Finocchio when he leaves the room. The two, in short, are a pair. And Marvin is a dog of many talents. He's a certified therapy dog who travels with Finocchio to nursing homes, nursery schools, day-care centers, hospital - anywhere that a friendly dog might im prove someone's quality of life. He knows 13 tricks - among them counting his age, playing dead, and shaking hands. Marvin, essentially, has become the poster dog for the RISPCA. He is also an author, having completed his autobiography, Marvelous Marvin, last year. And now he is an artists. Recently, Finocchio was perusing the Internet when he came across a story telling of zookeepers who gave their elephants paint brushes and let them paint on canvas. It was that day that Marvin started to paint. Marvin is asked to play dead and while he's laying on the groun d his tail is dipped in watercolor paints (Finocchio chooses the colors. We all know that dogs are color blind.) When Marvin is asked, he wags his tail against a canvas and voila! a painting is created. Marvin's creations sell from $60 to $30. Some are im pressionistic, while others actually show images - like a racehorse, and a flock of ducks. And Marvin also exhibits his art. he had works at the Scituate Art Festival and won an honorable mention at the Burrillville Art Festival. The money he raises through his paintings and his book, go to the "Marvin Fund" at the SPCA to help other animals in need. "I'm lucky to have him," says Finocchio, looking at Marvin laying at his feet. I think they're lucky to have each other. |