VILLAGE PET PAGES

Stash, The Amazing Cardigan Welsh Corgi of the West Village

By Joy Pape and Brian Pape

We met Emily and Stash at a party on Weehawken Street years ago. We became instant friends with Emily and fell in love with Stash. How can you not fall in love with Stash? Here’s our recent interview with his owner, Emily.

What made you choose Stash?
Thirty years ago, I was sitting in a car in the West Village looking out the window, when I saw a man walking two ‘low riding’ dogs that looked like foxes. I was “Wow! Cool looking dogs!” He told me they were Cardigan Welsh Corgis.

Although I’ve adopted several rescues, I also understand a person may need to know more about the history of a dog one wants to adopt or just wants a particular breed. This time I wanted a Cardigan Welsh Corgi!

The man I saw that day became a friend who helped me get two Cardigan Welsh Corgis from his friend who was the breeder. We got Winnie first and then we got Max for my son Cory. When Winnie died and Max got older, we got Stash ─ another Cardigan Welsh Corgi ─ when he was three months old. The breeder had already named him Stash on his birth certificate, so we kept his name.

Max passed on and we now only have Stash. As you see, we like having a dog in our home as part of our family. We also have a cat, Diggy. They get along well.

Tell us about Stash’s surgery.
During COVID, Stash had a herniated disc which is common in Corgis and low riding dogs. My friend, Dr. Avra Frucht, a veterinarian at Gramercy Park Animal Hospital, recommended I take him to City Long Island Med Center. He had an MRI and was diagnosed as having spinal herniation. The diagnosis took a long time but the right diagnosis is important for a good outcome. I recommend people ask the vet about the best way to diagnose, no matter what the cost.

After spinal surgery, veterinarian Dr. Jacqueline Carver Avla recommended water therapy for Stash. There are two water therapy clinics in New York, But since this occurred during COVID ─ and I have a sister in South Carolina ─ I took him to Charleston Veterinary Referral Center where he received underwater treadmill therapy eight times.

He’s now doing great and is very lucky! To keep from getting injured, he can’t go to dog runs or dog play. However, I take him on walks often. When I go horseback riding, I usually bring Cory or friends who take Stash for walks in the grass. Sometimes he sits in the car and watches me ride. He likes these activities.

What about Stash’s personality stands out to you?
Stash is very, very smart!

What does Stash do during the day?
I work from home and the office. He likes to sleep, so on the days I’m not home, I have a neighbor dog walker who takes him out.

Where are Stash’s favorite places in the Village?
• The Hudson River Park!
• Brooklyn Fare where he gets a biscuit from the people who work there.
• The Standard Biergarten where he gets a cooked sausage from the chef.
• Stafili Wine Café-West Village. where they give him Milk Bones.
• Le Dive-West Village where they give him a big gourmet bone.

What are his favorite foods?
He has five Milk Bones for breakfast and ¾ cup Purina dry food for dinner

Anything special you want to tell our readers about Stash?
I’m a member of SAG-AFTRA. Stash does background work with me sometimes when they need a dog. He recently worked with Richard Gere in the movie Asymmetry.

Any parting words?
I have had three Cardigan Welsh Corgis. They are fantastic and they are very smart working dogs. I will get another one. They need a lot of exercise to keep their weight down. Also, a rescue dog is great, in fact all dogs are great!

Learn more at: akc.org/dog-breeds/cardigan-welsh-corgi