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Doug Owen works remotely from his residence in East Nashville, the place his desk window faces the road, giving him an ideal view of everybody strolling by. He particularly likes watching the canines.
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“The neighborhood is stuffed with canines, and so they’re simply stunning. They stroll forwards and backwards all hours of the day,” mentioned Owen, an impartial contractor.
Just a few months in the past a thought got here to him as he gazed out the window: “They deserve a deal with.”
Because the neighborhood pooches all the time brighten his day, he wished to return the favor.
He started looking out on-line and located an previous gumball machine on the market for about $80. Good for small canine treats.
“It simply got here out of nowhere,” Owen mentioned of the concept. “I don’t have a canine, and I don’t desire a canine, however I take pleasure in watching individuals strolling their canines. And now they can provide them a deal with.”
Owen strapped the gumball machine to a wood pole exterior his residence, purchased a field of canine treats and crammed the machine with them. It dispenses the goodies free with a twist of the dial, no cash required.
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“All you’ve acquired to do is flip the deal with,” Owen mentioned, noting that about 4 tiny treats tumble down. “The canine treats are free as a result of we all know canines don’t carry money.”
Up to now month since he put in it, neighbors – and particularly their canine companions – have been charmed. Owen hung an indication that claims: “Doug’s Canine Delights.”
“It’s a fairly cool factor to have,” mentioned Chad Crawford, whose two rescue canines – Penny, 7, and Sugar, 2 – have change into huge followers of the deal with dispenser, which they go by on their every day walks.
Crawford lives across the nook from Owen, although the 2 hadn’t met till not too long ago, after Owen arrange the gumball machine.
Owen mentioned a part of his motivation for placing up the dispenser was to create a conversation-starter in his group.
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“I’ve carried out loads of driveway speaking within the final couple months,” he mentioned, explaining that when he sees neighbors cease to take a deal with for his or her canine, he typically goes exterior to greet them. “They inform me their identify and their canine’s identify.”
Working remotely might be isolating, Owen mentioned, and his canine deal with dispenser has been a manner for him and his neighbors to socialize with each canines and people.
“It will get individuals speaking,” he mentioned.
About 15 years in the past, Owen’s household canine died and he hasn’t had one since. He mentioned having a canine is pricey and can also be a dedication, and with the ability to mingle with neighborhood canines is sufficient for now.
“There’s a canine there in all probability each 10 minutes,” he mentioned. “No matter drawback or troubles you could have, it lowers the blood strain and your worries are rather less.”
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Owen mentioned canines within the neighborhood have already designated the dispenser as a essential a part of their stroll. He loves seeing them dash towards it, cease at it, sit and wait patiently for his or her deal with.
“The canines comprehend it’s there,” he mentioned. “They’re pulling the house owners towards it. It’s now a magnet.”
As quickly as Kevin Patterson’s rescue pups – Lucy, 4, and Greta, 3 – get near the gumball machine, their tails begin wagging and their tempo picks up.
“My canines have gotten to know after they’re shut by and so they get fairly excited,” mentioned Patterson, who has lived within the neighborhood for about six years. “We speak to different canine house owners as we stroll by, so it’s been fairly cool that manner.”
McKenna McFadden’s 6-year-old golden retriever, Rhett, velocity walks straight to the deal with machine.
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“We’re all getting pulled by our canines to that location,” she mentioned. “It’s change into a bit social setting, not only for the neighbors however for the canines as effectively.”
Whereas Owen assumed his canine deal with dispenser could be well-received by the group, he’s tickled by the eye it has gotten, notably after it was featured in a narrative by NewsChannel5.
“I’m blown away,” he mentioned, including that he hopes he evokes individuals to place up their very own canine deal with dispensers of their neighborhoods.
Owen has already bought two extra packing containers of treats and intends to proceed filling the gumball machine indefinitely.
“I don’t plan on stopping,” he mentioned. “I don’t need canines mad at me.”
10-10-2024 09:21PM
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