Winter 2025

Working Dogs BY MICHAEL CHATFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLI ULDALL 100 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 5 tristan F or a dog, pet boutique Diggidy Dog would be a dream job, and this West Highland ter- rier gets to spend his weekends in a cozy loft behind the counter. But truth be told,Tristan’s mind is elsewhere: specifically on a surfboard. “He’s a five-time world champion surfer,” says owner Christy O’Connor. “The first time, he hopped on the board, rode it all the way in and jumped right back on.” Oddly, he doesn’t like to swim, but on waves and elsewhere, he always has a smile on his face and in his heart. Eli L eslie Hinson brings her 7-month-old black pug in to work at Pure Barre fitness studio every day. “He sits on his spot, waits for sessions to be over and barrels in, asking ‘who needs some love?’” Hinson was specifically looking for a black pug and finally found him in a serendipitous set of circumstances through Tiny Paws Rescue. “Finding a pup like Eli isn’t easy through rescue,” Hinson says. “He’s so chill and grounded. He’s a therapy dog for all our clients.” “Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.” —Kinky Friedman