Varnuska, Jeannie: - I was raised on a farm and had as pets everything from goats, chickens, lambs, hurt birds, dogs, and cats. I worked for Los Angeles Unified School District for 25 years working with Kindergarten to Junior High School. So many times I heard children say "I'm not good at that." and it broke my heart. I got Diesel to love and give back to our community by training him to sit on the floor of libraries and schools to encourage children to READ. Not to me but a very nonjudgmental long eared Basset Hound. We went to a Basset Hound event and that's when I discovered Diesel as hard as he tries can't or won't HOWL. He's so good at putting the children at ease when they read to him, stroking his long ears, or just stroking his fur. Does it really matter he can't howl? His work is so much more important.