Corner
Coping through COVID
Eggy's with Dog Mama Bianca
By Bianca Ortiz Wertheim
Hola! My name is Horton Ortiz-
Wertheim. My dog-mama Bianca
adopted me 11 years ago from
the Albuquerque Animal Shelter. Since 2009, my
mom Bianca who works for U.S. Senator Tom
Udall (D-NM) as his Chief of Staff went into an
office all week, but now she’s home with me all
day!
One of the reasons my mom thinks
Senator Udall is a great boss is because he loves
animalitos of all kinds! My padrino is one of her
co-workers Bill “Guillermo” Woldman, who is a
Field Representative for the Senator in New
Mexico. Bianca is one of two Latina Chiefs of
Staff in the U.S. Senate. She shares this honor
with her amiga Rebecca Avitia.
I am honored to serve as one of the many
four-legged ambassadors on Capitol Hill, I work
hard on Bi-Paw-tisanship. Some days it is more
difficult than others, but wagging my tail seems
to make people smile. When I come to work with
dog mama Bianca, the U.S. Capitol Police are
always so kind and professional. I am sure to be
on my best behavior (little secret: sometimes they
have treats).
- Limit your intake of treats, cookies, and the
I think Bianca is sad these days, since she
liquid that pours freely at Yappy Hour
can’t see her colleagues and say hello. But, I do
- Hygiene is important, please bathe. A dog’s
my best to help her navigate the many laptops,
sense of smell is 40 times greater than
iPads, cellphones, headphones that she now has
humans. Be kind.
to keep on our dining room table. Looks like my
- Clean up after yourself. Pay attention to trip
dog mama uses a leash also, but it’s in the form
hazards – especially furry ones, like me!
of headphones. Having so many devices plugged
- Stop drinking coffee after 3PM.
in at once makes for some tricky stepping for me
Quarantine or no-quarantine, this is sound advice
and occasionally, my fluffy tail will battle with her
when you are already anxious!
MacBook Air plug.
- There is a difference between zoomies and
The COVID-19 pandemic is scary, and I hope
Zoom!
our humans stay safe. I am lucky that I get to
- Sometimes barking isn’t the best way to
spend a lot of time with my dog mama and dog
communicate with one another.
LS
papa. Sometimes I just want to sleep or just lay
around with my eyes open and contemplate
In solidarity,
puzzles- like, how many treats come in a box of
Horton Ortiz-Wertheim
Milk Bones? Why are squirrels so fast? How
President of Activities & Wellness (PAW)
come certain blades of grass smell SOOO good?
It can be exhausting being a quarantine dog.
But, dog mama wants to go for walks while
After a month of my dog mama working
wearing her leash and talking into it (curious), or
from home, I have some consejo for all the dog
wants to brush my fur- again, or just talks to
mamas and papas out there. I understand it can
Want to comment or have any questions on
me…all...of...the...time.
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42 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle Vol. 26, No. 4, 2020
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