Finley, a four-year-old Peke-a-Poo, is our wonderful September Dog of the Month.

His proud owner had heard the name Finley and really liked the sound of it. Then she looked up its origin and meaning: it was Irish and meant “fair warrior.” She had recently lost her husband to cancer and he was of Irish descent so she named Finley sort of in honor of her late husband.

She says of Finley:

Finley is very sweet, gentle, and quiet. However, he’s smart enough to find a way to communicate. He and I often go for walks on the jetty and have found beached baby sea lions. I typically don’t notice because they blend into the rocks, but Finley will use his head to nudge up against the back of my leg and then pull on the leash to guide me toward the animal(s). He won’t approach or bark – just get me close enough to notice them lying there. We’ve saved two baby sea lions – one hurt, the other abandoned by calling Marine Animal Rescue.

• Favorite toy: Kibble Nibble and Chuckit! Ultra Ball
• Favorite treat: Deer Shank Bone
• Favorite activity: Finley loves being around people, going places with his Mom (shopping, restaurants, etc.), running on the beach or at the park, and playing fetch