Curicyn At Work

You don’t have to be a farmer to know that there’s more to a working animal’s life than laying eggs or providing milk. When we talk about working animals outside of farm life, police and military dogs and horses come to mind. But there are a lot more ways in which animals work with humans that deserve appreciation. From working carriage horses to pack mules, rescue dogs and even working cats, animals are an integral part of our day-to-day lives. 

Cats in Tourism & Hospitality

You may not think of animals as a part of tourism and hospitality outside of zoos and attractions. However, when you look closely, you may see more animals working together to make your vacation or adventure pleasant. Many waterfront and rural tourist destinations are challenged with pests. From pesky seagulls to unsanitary rodents, no one wants their meal with a view to be interrupted by a swooping bird or scrambling mouse. 

In many cases, business owners employ the services of cats to patrol their property. Especially in warmer climates, felines are prettycontent to live outdoors and “earn their keep” by chasing unwanted guests away so that the human guests can enjoy the environment. In rural areas, shop cats may hang out inside, in the back office areas away from customers, or greet you at the door.

Two of our favorite working cats are Bugsy, who became famous when featured on Animal Planet, because when it comes to cats, he’s the most “gangsta” of them all. This brave feline arrived as a stray at a gator tour company and patrolled the beaches to keep the tour guests safe from the gators. He became a favorite as he boldly slapped any approaching gator in the face, getting the gator to retreat to the water.

Our other favorite feline is the former mayor of a small town in Alaska. Yes, you heard that right. A cat for mayor! The small town of Talkeetna is at the base of Mount Denali. As Atlas Obscura recounts, “In 1997, when Nagley’s needed a new store cat, manager Laurie Stec found and adopted a Manx mix with a short tail whom she dubbed Stubbs. Stubbs became a local celebrity, greeting shoppers at Nagley’s and making his way every afternoon to the adjoining West Rib Pub & Grill, where he drank catnip-infused water out of a wine or margarita glass.”

The small town’s residents adored Stubbs so much that they elected him as mayor. Although the town is unincorporated and has no true mayor, the residents named Stubbs the honorary mayor nonetheless, a position he held for a decade until his passing at the age of 20 in 2017 – quite a feat considering his escapades over the years! Stubbs turned out to be so influential the town remains with a feline mayor to this day – Ms. Aurora. Read the full story to hear about the incredible tales of Mayor Stubbs, in a small rural town in Alaska.

Working Dogs and Their Jobs

When it comes to working dogs, there are a multitude of jobs available. Hunting and retrieving, military/police and protection, service, and therapy jobs are among the more commonly known roles for working canines. However, there are some very unique lesser-known roles working dogs take on. 

You probably know that police and military dogs can be trained for a wide range of tasks, from search and rescue to detecting bombs and drugs, as well as protecting their handlers and apprehending suspects during pursuits.What you may not know is that there are some very specific roles dogs can be trained for that have adapted to the digital age – quite literally! That’s right, being an electronic detection dog is a job held by dogs in police and military roles today. These dogs are trained specifically to detect electronic devices such as thumb drives, microchips, and even computers to find evidence in criminal investigations. Who knew that electronics had a specific scent that dogs could detect? 

In addition to police and military dogs, you may think of herding and livestock dogs as another prominent role. But did you know that it’s possible to be a runway dog? That was the job of one such dog at an airport in Michigan. Clad in ear muffs and dog goggles for protection, Piper the Border Collie spent his days chasing birds off the runway of Cherry Capital Airport until he passed away of old age. Talk about having a job you love! Learn more about Piper and other unique dog jobs in the article from our friends at FitBark.

Excellent Equids

Like dogs, horses are known for their police and military work; however their close relatives, mules, take on roles in remote locations that are even too challenging for the most surefooted hardy horse. For working farmers and even hobby farms, mules are great for herd protection, companionship, and even riding. When it comes to the rugged backcountry of America, they can take on a more critical role altogtherr: U.S. Forest Service Pack Mules.

Surefooted and level-headed, mules can carry upwards of 150 pounds of gear and supplies while traversing rugged terrain. They are hardy animals known for being easy-keepers, meaning they require less feed and care than their equine counterparts. They can also reach remote areas that ATVs and other vehicles often cannot access. The United States Forest Service utilizes mules to get supplies to remote trails and locations, as well as to assist with the aid and coordination of much-needed goods and equipment in natural disasters. Despite what people may think, pack mules are not a thing of the past. They are very much still a part of the workforce of America today!

Regardless of what type of work the animals around us do, Curicyn is there to help them heal and thrive. From emergency pet care kits to equine triage kits, travel-size wound care spray, and even our new wound care wipes our products are designed to keep animals happy and healthy, and get them back to work quickly! Share any working animals you may know with us by tagging us on social at @Curicyn.