Toy Story

The "Make Your Own Dildo" kit -- plus airport shuttles, zine geeks, and reform school for dogs

A A A Comments By Karen McKevitt and Dan Siegler and Ben Westhoff and Bernice Yeung Wednesday, Oct 2 2002

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Suzie lounges in the center of the room while Bug, a salt-and-pepper pit bull, chews incessantly on a light-up ball. Emery alternates between jumping around like a spring and trying -- unsuccessfully -- to get something started with dogs three times his size. Overall, though, the half-dozen dogs seem indifferent to one another and mingle peacefully, despite a palpable tension in the air.

Armed with a spray bottle of bitter-apple juice she uses to prevent fights, Copeland looks at the dogs with fondness, speaking to them in the high, squeaky voice one normally reserves for small children. "I try to understand where they're coming from," Copeland explains. "Like how you would deal with a child that may be abused or in a foster home.

Tom Dougherty

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"For two years, Suzie was in a shelter, and she was in her own room because she couldn't live with other dogs. But why wouldn't a dog be that way? They stuck her in a cage and took everything from her. And Rocco was at a day care where he sat all day in a kennel, and they said he was aggressive and barking. Well, he was frustrated from watching all the other dogs play. And Emery has a Napoleon complex.

"It has gone so well. It's a great thing. All the dog people said that these dogs would never be in a social environment. And I've proven their theory wrong. I'm really just so proud of this group. My heart lies with the underdog." -- Bernice Yeung

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