A mascot with merit

Happiness is... a tail-wagging mascot.
Were I less modest, or less bound by conflicts of interest, I might have proposed my own four-legged and furry walking companion to become the feel-good symbol that Hillsville officials sought in 2006.
It's more than just pet parent pride — to me, at least, my dog Sydney has changed the way I look at the town. Southwest Virginia, and indeed the world.
Let me explain.
The dog and I serve as faithful walkers on the town's Beaver Dam Trail, and we've probably made it there at most more than 300 times a year since the path first opened.
On top of that, we regularly walk on the New River Trail, and we actively search out other places to enjoy the outdoors, as well.
People might not remember seeing me on any of our outings on those trails, because when they pass us going the other way, they often have their eyes locked on the dog, while cooing in that tone reserved for cute babies and critters.
Many of them don't talk to me directly, but exclaim, "Oh, what a beautiful doggy," while looking her into her eyes.
She might favor the complimenter with a wag of the tail.
We say thank you and move on.
Again, this isn't just a puffed-up parent talking about a single example of such flattery — this happens on a regular basis when we meet strangers.
Sydney makes most people feel welcome, but other canines can sometimes feel her Australian shepherd protectiveness in the form of snarling and barking. (To other dog- owners and -walkers, we apologize for any inconvenience.)
The animal does draw attention wherever she goes.
Twice while visiting attractions on the Blue Ridge Parkway — Linville Falls and Mabry Mill — tourists asked me all about her tri-colored coat and blue-white eyes and then requested a photo of the dog.
I thought it was funny that my dog became one of the features photographed at the most photographed attraction on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
So she had in her favor being friendly to people and photogenic, as well as being a staple on the town trail.
But there's more: When a rabies outbreak happened in Virginia's Twin Counties a while back, Sydney unflinchingly acted as a poster-dog for protecting other animals by getting the vaccination in a photograph to accompany a newspaper article.
Arguably the most famous dog in Hillsville, Sydney has already helped to symbolize the town by appearing in action on the trail on the television show "All in a Day's Drive," promoting tourist destinations in Virginia.
And I've written before how, in a way, the dog has served as my muse in learning about the outdoors.
Her hyperactivity as a puppy convinced me that we couldn't just stay in the house and throw the ball 100 times straight to play fetch all day.
We had to get out and walk in order to burn off some of that energy.
Worked like a charm... with an unintended side effect of deepening my love for Hillsville and other parts of Southwestern Virginia we've seen. I started thinking about her as my Blue Ridge guide.
And that's why, if I could, I would submit Sydney's nomination for Hillsville's mascot.

• Originally posted in The Gazette, Galax, Va., in December 2006