National Dog Day comes once a year, but these Topekans celebrate their furry friends daily

Bryan Wheeles' little black mini-Schnauzer goes wild with joy whenever a member of their family gets home.

The 7-year-old canine runs in figure eights around their coffee table, then lies exhausted on the floor, the Topeka police chief said.

With National Dog Day being Saturday, Wheeles was among Topekans who talked to The Capital-Journal about their personal versions of man's best friend.

Topeka police chief's pooch

Wheeles' family's dog is named "D-O-G," which is pronounced "Dee-Oh-Gee," with the emphasis being placed on the second syllable. Two of Wheeles' children came up with the name.

D-O-G's tail wagged excitedly during a visit Tuesday to the chief's office at the police station.

He is a "totally friendly dog" who doesn't bite or have any issues with people or other dogs, Wheeles said.

D-O-G is an indoor dog who likes spending time in his kennel, he said.

He has been trained to sit, and to come when called, Wheeles said. He also likes to play fetch.

In terms of spending time outdoors, "He runs around in the backyard but that's about it," Wheeles said.

D-O-G is "not much of a guard dog" but is "quite a noisemaker" who barks a lot when he feels their household is threatened, he said.

Fire chief's dog Sox has 'four brown paws, like he was wearing socks'

Topeka Fire Chief Randy Phillips' two dogs, Patches and Sox, likewise get really excited whenever any member of their family arrives home.

"It gets very loud, and you are mobbed at the door," Phillips said. "Once, the living room windows were open and I got home, and Patches got so excited he put his head through the window screen trying to get out to see me!"

Patches and Sox are litter mates who will turn 13 years old in December. Their father was a black Labrador retriever and their mother was a heeler/shepherd mix, Phillips said.

He said Patches was given that name because of the dark patches on his white coat, while Sox got his name because he was "pretty much all black with four brown paws, like he was wearing socks."

Both are indoor dogs. Despite their age, both are active.

Patches is very energetic and inquisitive, and highly intelligent, Phillips said.

Family members joke that "we should have named him 'Mikey' because he'll eat anything" in terms of food, Phillips said, while making reference to a character in an old Life cereal commercial.

Sox likes to take naps, he said.

When Phillips' wife, Devin, is home, "she will sit in the recliner with the footrest up and he always curls up in her legs and sleeps next to her in the chair," he said.

"Both are extremely loyal to our family and very protective of female members," Randy Phillips said.

And for whatever reason, he said, "They both go nuts over the little cherry tomatoes!"

Auburn-Washburn superintendent has a gentle giant for a best friend

Bailey is a massive beast, standing taller than most adults and certainly all children when he gets on his hind legs.

He's also one of the gentlest Great Danes you'll ever meet, said owner and Auburn-Washburn USD 437 superintendent Scott McWilliams.

"He's laid back, and as big as he is, he’s absolutely afraid of everything," McWilliams said. "So he stays pretty close to mom when he’s at home."

McWilliams said the family adopted him more than two years ago from the litter of a pregnant stray. Bailey is the family's first Great Dane, but "because he's been so good," they now have another younger sister for him at home.

"He’s been a huge addition to our family," McWilliams said. "He’s a lap dog. Anytime you sit down, he’s going to find his way (onto your lap), and either his head or back end will end up on your lap."

When he's not on a lap, the family even made a custom bed out of an old mattress for the two massive dogs, who are "peas in a pod."

"He’s been a wonderful dog to have, and he brings a lot of energy, but a lot of love, to the house," McWilliams said.

German shepherd is Washburn University president's Top Bod Dog

Harvey was originally just supposed to be with JuliAnn Mazachek and her husband, Keith, while their son was stationed in Japan.

Several years later, the Mazacheks accept they've more or less inherited the lovable 7-year-old German shepherd.

"He's a perfect dog," JuliAnn Mazachek said. "His favorite way to play is that he has toys that have very long spindly legs, and he likes to flip them all around and hit himself in the face with them.

"It's the weirdest thing," she added with a laugh.

At home, Harvey is very talkative, and he often interrupts human conversations when he's not getting enough attention, the Mazacheks said.

Topeka superintendent's dog is a reminder of family and love

Stanley Anderson didn't have to walk long through the Kansas City animal shelter before he fell in love with Belle.

Stanley Anderson, the late husband of Topeka USD 501 superintendent Tiffany Anderson, had been in remission from cancer in 2015 when the couple and their children added the black Labrador retriever mix to their family.

After Stanley Anderson died of cancer in 2017, Belle began joining family photos as a reminder of the late physician's legacy of love.

"Belle, who we adopted as a baby, is a reminder that healing is a journey and not a destination, and caring for another living spirit is the greatest gift there is," Tiffany Anderson said.

Helping Hands Humane Society has plenty of dogs ready to be your best friend

Several dogs are ready for adoption at Helping Hands Humane Society, 5720 S.W. 21st St.

The animal organization suggests spending some time with the animals in their care to better get to know a potential best friend for adoption.

Staff require those interested to first complete an adoption profile, so an adoption counselor can match you to the right pet.

After that is complete, the organization will host an acquaintance session to verify compatibility between the dog and anyone living in the adoption household.

After that, families fill out paperwork and pay fees, all of which go toward furthering Helping Hands Humane Society's animal saving mission, before they can take their new dog home.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topekans can't imagine lives without these friends on National Dog Day