10/23/2026
Sometimes, a little John Wayne and a whole lot of dog can get you out of a jam.
I love my customers, and in all the time I've been doing this, I've only run into a couple of folks who were less than polite.
Early on, I got a call to open a car at 1 a.m. in a housing project, in the middle of a rainstorm. I got the car open, but when it came time to pay, the customer decided he didn't want to. He was a grown man, but apparently he needed backup, so he called some friends. Before long, they were making threats and looking to start a fight.
Fortunately, I had my Winnie Dog with me.
If you know Winnie, you know she's mostly peaceful — all 120 pounds of Great Pyrenees mix.
She was sitting in the back of the vehicle I was working out of at the time. I opened the back door, took a deep breath, and in my best John Wayne voice, said:
"Come on, dog."
Well, that big ol' mass of fur came barreling out of the car. A few choice words were exchanged, everyone suddenly reconsidered their plans for the evening, Winnie hopped back into the car, and we left.
I never did get paid for that job.
But between growing up watching John Wayne movies and having a 120-pound dog who knew how to make an entrance, I got out of what could have been a pretty ugly situation.
Sometimes, the old Duke gets it right. And sometimes, a good dog is worth her weight in gold.
Thanks, Winnie. You were a good girl that night, and you still are.
