FETCHINGPERSONALITIES

Jimmy The Working Dog

Rachel Tibbs saved her dog, Jimmy, from an identity crisis. His paperwork at Dallas Pets Alive, an animal rescue group, said he was a poodle. Shortly after adopting the pooch, Tibbs discovered he was actually a Bichon Frise.

“So many people we saw on walks said, ‘Oh, a Bichon!,’” she remembers. “We looked it up. His personality and his looks fit the description perfectly.”

Jimmy, the Bichon, is now almost 6 years old. Most days, he accompanies Tibbs to work at Hollywood Feed on Forest and Inwood. He’s very popular at the store, which sells products for dogs and cats.

“He gets petted a lot and gets to meet a bunch of di erent people,” Tibbs says. “He loves kids. Kids will sit with him, hug him and pet him. He gets really happy to see them.”

But no one hugs Jimmy more than his owner. Tibbs grew up with dogs, but this is the first one she’s owned independently.

“I was surprised by how quickly I got attached to him,” she says. “Within a couple weeks of having him, I couldn’t imagine being without him.”

Chimi The Pick Of The Litter

When Libby, a 14-year-old schnoodle, passed away, Lauren Law was devastated. The dog had become an integral part of her family. Her son, Nick, was equally heartbroken.

“He had known no other dog except for Libby,” she explains. “He just loved and adored her.”

Initially, Law thought they should give themselves some healing time before getting another pet. But then she saw her neighbor’s Havanese and fell in love.

“I thought it was the cutest little dog,” she says. “I found a breeder through a club in San Antonio. She had one dog left and it was her pick of the litter.”

The breeder wanted to keep the pooch, but had just undergone knee surgery and felt too weak for the daily walks dogs require. Law was happy to assume parental duties.

Last November, Chimi arrived in Dallas with his sister, who also found a home in Preston Hollow. Every so often, the dogs see each other.

“The other family has a little girl and she wrote Nick a letter, asking if they could get the dogs together,” Law says. “It was fun. They played, but I don’t know if they recognized each other.”

Even if his sibling didn’t live nearby, Chimi would feel at home in our neighborhood. Though they miss Libby, the Laws have welcomed the dog into their family with open arms.

“We just kind of thought, ‘This is a new little life coming into our home,’” Law says. “He just stole our hearts.” we can give our

One is ROOTS and the other is WINGS.

CLAIRE’S CHRISTIAN DAY SCHOOL

8202 Boedeker Dr., / (214) 368-4047 / clairesdayschool.com At CCDS, we encourage a child’s sense of exploration and discovery in a loving, nurturing, and safe environment. We offer a parent’s day out program with a play-based curriculum fostering socialization, motor skill development, and an introduction to academics for children aged 4mo – 3yrs. Our preschool for children aged 3-5 further develops these skills, along with a more focused approach to pre-math and prereading. At CCDS, we have developed our own science, math, and reading enrichment classes to ensure kindergarten preparedness for every child. We make learning fun!

Highlander School

9120 Plano Rd. Dallas / 214.348.3220 / www.highlanderschool.com

Founded in 1966, Highlander offers an enriched curriculum in a positive, Christian-based environment. Limiting class size affords the teachers the opportunity to develop the individual learning styles of each student. Our goal is to insure knowledge and self-confidence in academics, athletics, and the creative and performing arts. Highlander offers a “classic” education which cannot be equaled.

Kessler School

Pre K – 6th Grade / 1215 Turner Ave, Dallas TX 75208 / 214-942-2220 / www. thekesserschool.com The Kessler School offers an innovative academic environment that gives students a solid foundation, confidence, and a love of learning. Located just minutes from downtown Dallas; The Kessler School’s mission is to “educate the whole child,” and provides an individualized approach to teaching – meeting the student where their needs are. Students are educated socially through community time, physically through daily PE, academically through a wellrounded curriculum, and spiritually through a fostering of awareness and individual growth.

Lakehill Preparatory School

Leading to Success. 2720 Hillside Dr., Dallas 75214 / 214.826.2931 / lakehillprep. org Kindergarten through Grade 12 - Lakehill Preparatory School takes the word preparatory in its name very seriously. Throughout a student’s academic career, Lakehill builds an educational program that achieves its goal of enabling graduates to attend the finest, most rigorous universities of choice. Lakehill combines a robust, college-preparatory curriculum with opportunities for personal growth, individual enrichment, and community involvement. From kindergarten through high school, every Lakehill student is encouraged to strive, challenged to succeed, and inspired to excel.

69% of our readers say they want to know more about private schools. to advertise call 214.560.4203

The Lamplighter School

11611 Inwood Road Dallas TX 75229/ 214-369-9201/ thelamplighterschool.org

Lamplighter delivers serious education wrapped in the wonder of childhood. The Pre-K through fourth grade years are fleeting, but filled with pure potential. What we, as parents and educators, ignite in these primary years establishes the trajectory of a child’s future. Lamplighter helps set children on a path toward rewarding lives as forever learners. The independent, co-educational school promotes academic excellence through innovative curriculum that merges fine arts with language arts, math, environmental science, social studies, physical education, and Spanish

Spanish House

4411 Skillman 214-826-4410 / 5740 Prospect 214-826-6350 / DallasSpanishHouse.com

Spanish Immersion School serving ages 3 month - Adults. We offer nursery, preschool, elementary and adult programs at two Lakewood locations. Degreed, nativeSpanish speaking teachers in an “all-Spanish” immersion environment. Call for a tour today!

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

848 Harter Rd., Dallas 75218 / 214.328.9131 / stjohnsschool.org Founded in 1953, St. John’s is an independent, co-educational day school for Pre-K through Grade 8. With a tradition for academic excellence, St. John’s programs include a challenging curriculum in a Christian environment along with instruction in the visual and performing arts, Spanish, German, French, and opportunities for athletics and community service.St. John’s goal for its students is to develop a love for learning, service to others, and leadership grounded in love, humility, and wisdom. Accredited by ISAS, SAES, and the Texas Education Agency.

White Rock North School

9727 White Rock Trail Dallas / 214.348.7410 / WhiteRockNorthSchool.com

6 Weeks through 6th Grade. Our accelerated curriculum provides opportunity for intellectual and physical development in a loving and nurturing environment. Character-building and civic responsibility are stressed. Facilities include indoor swimming pool, skating rink, updated playground, and state-of-the-art technology lab. Kids Club on the Corner provides meaningful after-school experiences. Summer Camp offers field trips, swimming, and a balance of indoor and outdoor activities designed around fun-filled themes. Accredited by SACS. Call for a tour of the campus.

Zion Lutheran School

6121 E. Lovers Ln. Dallas / 214.363.1630 / ziondallas. org Toddler care thru 8th Grade. Serving Dallas for over 58 years offering a quality education in a Christ-centered learning environment. Degreed educators minister to the academic, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of students and their families. Before and after school programs, Extended Care, Parents Day Out, athletics, fine arts, integrated technology, Spanish, outdoor education, Accelerated Reader, advanced math placement, and student government. Accredited by National Lutheran School & Texas District Accreditation Commissions and TANS. Contact Principal Jeff Thorman.

Neko The Athlete

Neko, an Australian Shepherd, might be in better shape than you are. Once a week, her owner, Paula Satterfield, takes her to All Fur Fun in Addison, where she trains to become an agility dog. She completes obstacle courses, plays kickball and catches lots of Frisbees.

“You say the word ‘Frisbee’ and she knows exactly what that means,” Satterfield says. “She’s very motivated to do this stu . She likes a challenge.”

Neko was the first dog Satterfield got through a breeder. She made this choice because she wanted an active dog that she could take on adventures. Neko enjoys kayaking and paddle boarding at White Rock Lake, but she isn’t reckless – she always wears a life preserver.

Satterfield’s Preston Hollow home is a bit of a menagerie. In addition to Neko, she has another Australian Shepherd named Jackson, who is just as sweet but more sedate. Also on the premises is Mr. Tibbs, a brown tabby cat, who Neko keeps in check.

“Tibbs always gets on counters in kitchen,” Satterfield says. “Neko knows Tibbs isn’t supposed to be up there. She’s like the enforcer. She makes sure Tibbs gets down.”

Satterfield hopes Neko’s sharpness will help her become a top-performing agility dog. She’s already making tremendous strides at All Fur Fun. While Neko trains, Satterfield bonds with the other dog owners.

“It’s a great group of people,” she says. “We all want our dogs to succeed and be happy.”