FROM THE PUBLISHER
ISSUE # 88 ❖ SUMMER 2021
South ’ s Mascot and Best Man Mongo . RIP pal .
ANOTHER ACE OF A TEAMMATE
IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO — ON MY BIRTHDAY — WHEN I HAD TO SAY GOODBYE TO SOUTH ’ S MASCOT AND THE BEST FRIEND A MAN COULD EVER HAVE . Mongo loved the spotlight , developing an enthusiastic fan club of his own after making several appearances in the magazine . He never let it get to his head , though .
The day I had to put him down was one of the saddest days of my life . Every pet owner knows that no matter how long you try to put off that decision , it never hurts any less to say goodbye . It tore my heart out to let him go , so much so that it has taken this long to welcome a new mascot .
South ’ s loyal readers know that we hold the highest
South ’ s latest addition to the team , Ace , is geared up with a Modern Icon collar .
regard for our military , law enforcement and first responders , and the working dogs that hold the line with them . It seemed only appropriate to find a mascot that fit the mold , and we hit the jackpot with Ace .
A mix of Malinois and Dutch Shepherd , Ace has a laid-back disposition , but when the situation calls for it , his genetics kick in and he ’ s all business . It ’ s kind of the best of both worlds , a gentle companion and a fierce protector all in one . OK , so he may be a bit more relaxed than his purebred cousins , something I realized when I had to wake him up one Saturday morning after he ’ d been snoring for a solid eight hours . But it ’ s hard not to fall in love with him .
His breeder , Jessica Bowling , donates dogs for those veterans who are in need of a service animal and she was great at walking me through the particulars of owning a breed like Ace . They are not for everyone , and I found that out pretty quickly . They are a lot of work , but they give back more than their share . Ace was worth the effort .
Bowling works with Travis Hall who is featured in this issue on page 91 and connects service dogs with veterans in need of a companion . Ace ’ s blend of breeds is certainly unique , and his personality could not be a more perfect fit for the magazine . At times I caught myself calling him Mongo because they are so similar . He comes to work with us every day , and he ’ s even managed to train each of our team members in a relatively short time .
As his personality developed , we realized he was a bit more headstrong than we anticipated , so we decided to call on Phillip Hughes of Legendary K9 . His reputation as a brilliant dog trainer preceded him , but what truly sold me was when I found out he doesn ’ t use shock collars . His philosophy on training dogs is , you make the training feel like play and the dog will do everything they can to make you happy . See more about Legendary K9 on page 84 .
Phillip works with both professional and civilian K9s , so I knew going into it he knew his stuff . Even then , I was astounded by how well he worked with our new mascot .
I ’ m happy to announce Ace has reported back to duty and is as sharp as ever . It was truly a great investment since he is going to be on the payroll now , and he will be earning his keep by making appearances at South events and protecting the offices . If you are in the neighborhood , drop by for a visit or you might see him bouncing about on Wright Square in Savannah where he performs his other “ duties .”
I hope you enjoy this special edition of South where we feature a robust section on pets . I cannot say enough about what they add to your life . If you are not fortunate enough to be a pet owner , you are missing out on an amazing experience . If you listen carefully to them , they will teach you more about life than anything else can .
MANY THANKS & KEEP READING
MICHAEL BROOKS PUBLISHER / CREATOR
12 SOUTH SUMMER 2021 PHOTO BY D . PAUL GRAHAM