Roxanne’s Story
The story of Roxanne is a rags-to-riches story that will warm the heart of any dog lover...
When motor graders first arrived to grade the property at the site of the new Rock Solid Dimensional Stone facility, the operators immediately spotted two pups curious about their work. The workman soon realized that the dogs never left the site, always staying at a considerable distance but eager to have a few scraps thrown their way. Rock Solid was the second business to begin construction in a very isolated industrial park. No homes were close by. It was pretty obvious that these dogs had been discarded by some unscrupulous and uncaring dog-owner. Very soon into the grading process, the more handsome of the two dogs disappeared, perhaps picked up by someone that wanted to claim him and give him a home. This left a bedraggled and timid Golden Retriever/German Sheppard mix all alone in a strange world with strange people. She chose as her home and hiding place a culvert that drained the property underneath the main road of the park. She was extremely wary of people, probably from abuse she had suffered early in her young life.
The owners of Rock Solid are dog-lovers. They became concerned for the dog's welfare and began bringing plates of food twice daily. For a while, it was impossible to coax the shy pup to come to them, so food was left at the opening of her culvert. Ever so gradually, she gained confidence and would approach when the food was delivered.
The plan was to find her a good home, but she had plans of her own. She endeared herself to all the workmen, from the graders to the masons to the roofers to the electricians to the pavers. They all looked out for her. Her name wasn’t hard to imagine…."Roxanne” seemed perfect for the head dog of Rock Solid Dimensional Stone, Inc. Pretty soon she was running to meet the workmen and owners, greeting them with a lick and little dance that she does.
She began following the workmen closely at every project and this was not a problem (except when she ran off with gloves etc) until it came time to pour concrete. This was a real problem. The first attempt at pouring was truly a disaster, with footprints everywhere. It had come to crunch time. Roxanne had to go, but where? Every idea was met by some obstacle, such as “Roxanne needs her space”, or “Roxanne would be broken hearted any where else”.
It was time to cut loose or commit. The owners broke.
They took Roxanne to their veterinarian for a full going over and a spay-job. She boarded there for 9 days until all the concrete was poured and dry. Words cannot tell you how happy she was to get back to her little corner of the earth and to see all the workmen again. They were just as happy to see her, bringing her all kinds of treats and having her join their lunch circle, where she never begged but gladly accepted handouts.
"Roxx" & Doug at Rock Solid
Well, she was in like Flynn now.
When time came to begin production in the new facility, and the workmen gradually fazed away, the employees of Rock Solid became her new friends. She greets them all every day and brightens up their lives. Customers love her too and frequently come in the office armed with dog chews. It is not unusual for one of the original workmen to drop by to see how she’s doing.
These days Roxanne leads the life of Riley. She spends hours under the conference table, or in the knee-hole of the president’s desk, or lounging on her pillow in front of the grand limestone fireplace in the lobby. She drinks water out of her limestone dog bowl, the first piece of stone cut on the Odyssey CNC. (It was designed for her because she had a propensity for running off with her light-weight bowls.) Employees feed her first thing every morning and the owners feed her before leaving for the night. She returns the favor of her upkeep by always being on duty, always being there when someone drives up. She takes her job very seriously and is dedicated to guarding her little corner of the earth.
Roxanne drinking from her limestone bowl
She has a nice, large home that the employees built for her, fully insulated to keep her warm in winter and dry in inclement weather. Her house is inside a large fenced area and most times when she is there alone, she likes to stay there. But she still calls her culvert home and in the 90 degree summer heat, you can still find her cooling off underground in the culvert. From all outward appearances, Roxanne has everything she wants and needs. She overflows with appreciation, loyalty and love of “masters” and makes working and doing business at Rock Solid a much more enjoyable experience for all.
Roxanne warming by her custom fireplace