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Meet Maverick.
Maverick is a four-year old black lab who has been trained as a
comfort and therapy dog. He is a member of the Gene Hickey family
and a beloved companion to both Gene and his wife Marsha. He is also
the official mascot for the local Marine Corps League, making
regular appearances in his dress blues along side his handler.
Maverick has participated in local parades, goes to various nursing
homes and hospitals to visit those who need a little pick-me-up, and
makes regular appearances at Farm and Home Supply in Lincoln, where
he enjoys his morning routine of cruising around the store with Gene
and sometimes Marsha too.
LDN had seen Maverick out and about, but it was at the annual
breakfast with Santa at the Cronin Brothers VFW this past December
that caught the attention of the LDN writer and prompted this
special story for the 2023 Animal Stories online magazine.
On that day, Maverick showed up in his uniform with a Christmas
light necklace to commemorate the season. Out in the parking lot,
Maverick and Marsha were met with interest, but not nearly so much
as when the dog entered the breakfast and found himself the center
of attention for young and old alike. In fact, for a while at least,
Maverick upstaged Santa and Mrs. Claus who were waiting to greet
children at the far end of the Freedom Hall.
As folks approached, Maverick ate it up like candy, appreciating the
hugs and pats from his admirers.
When invited to share Maverick’s story, the Hickey’s and Maverick
were happy to stop in at the LDN offices in Lincoln and sit a spell
as they shared their story.
To start, Gene Hickey and Marsha (Kraus) Hickey are no strangers to
offering care and comfort to those who are hurting. Marsha’s family
owned Kraus Retirement Home and Gene’s dad, also named Gene ran the
home for the Kraus’ for a time.
Gene and Marsha agreed that it has always been a part
of their nature to care for others and do all they can to lighten
and brighten the day of those who are hurting or isolated.
Gene said over the years, he has been part of providing comfort and
therapy via a variety of animals including ponies and horses and his
first comfort dog Dozer. While it has been a function of the
Hickey’s, Gene said it became a mission when his own father had to
go to a long-term facility. Gene said one day he and his dog visited
dad. When he first laid eyes on his father, there was a certain
sadness in his expression, and it was painful for Gene to see. But
the dog went to the dad and the attitude quickly changed. Gene said
the dog provided his father with a pick-me-up that was definitely
needed at that moment.
With that memory in place, Gene set out to bring that kind of
happiness to as many people as he could. Employing Dozer throughout
the rest of his life, then bringing Maverick in as the second
generation, the Hickeys have visited nursing homes, assisted living
facilities, and hospitals throughout the region. They are welcome
visitors to Ronald McDonald House and always enjoy the interactions
between Maverick and the children and families at the house.
Even though Maverick and Gene are both Marines, the dog is not
exclusive to veterans. Gene says they will go anywhere they are
needed and to anyone young, old, civilian or veteran.
The dog also joins Gene at the weekly men’s breakfast at Christian
Village, and goes to Farm and Home in Lincoln almost daily.
Maverick came to the Hickey’s as a puppy. In fact, he may have been
among the last of the puppies raised at the Purina Farms in the St.
Louis area. Gene explained that Purina offered the puppies from the
farm, but there was always a long waiting list. When seeking a
puppy, the prospective pet parent can specify the breed of animal
they wish to acquire. Gene prefers the labs and had put in a request
then waited and waited, until one day a call came, saying “we have
your puppy.”
Gene said he and Marsha were excited to go get their new little
family member. They had arranged to take a small dog carrier with
them so the pup could make the trip home safely. Gene laughed and
said, “When we got there, the puppy was half grown, and his head
would not have fit in the carrier we had!” The good folks at Purina
Farms had taken great care with the pup. He was house broken and had
behavior training suitable to a very desirable family pet.
When Maverick came home with the Hickey’s, the next order of
business was to go to training including obedience training and
therapy training. Which by the way, the training is as much for Gene
as it is Maverick, and they both graduated with honors.
The result is that Maverick is very well behaved and has shed some
of the unpopular habits of dogs such as licking faces, jumping on
people, and unnecessary barking.
Is there ever a time when Maverick is not obedient? Gene laughed and
said the dog still is a dog. The Hickey’s live in the country with
wildlife around. Maverick has a particular interest in rabbits and
squirrels and when he sees one, he is hard pressed to obey the stay
and sit orders.
In public, Gene says Maverick is always calm and approachable, but
he does not impose himself on others. He has learned that it is best
to let the people interact with him not vice versa. He also has the
ability to sense what a person is feeling toward him.
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Gene said when they are out in public with children present,
Maverick knows when a child is hesitant or afraid and instead of
trying to “make a friend,” the dog lays down and quietly waits for
the person to come to him. If it doesn’t happen, that is okay, but
if it does, then the dog is gentle and kind and gives the person
plenty of time to warm up to him.
Gene says most of the time that is what happens, but once in a while
someone will completely come undone at the sight of a dog. He noted
a trip he and Maverick had made to an out-of-town store. Inside the
store a lady saw the dog from a distance and became hysterical
crying and screaming for the dog to be kept away from her and her
family. Gene said in cases like that, you do what you can to
accommodate the persons wishes, as there is no need to put the
person or the dog through the trauma of a forced interaction.
Maverick obeys on command and knows that Gene carries treats in his
pocket as a reward. The dog also gets special treats from time to
time such as a hot dog. Marsha told about a trip to an event in New
Holland where the dog was treated to a hot dog while Gene and Marsha
ate. A man saw the interaction and asked if he too could feed the
dog. He was told yes, but that to do so, he would need to break the
hot dog off a little bit at a time and feed Maverick small bites.
Asked why that was the case, Marsha explained that it discourages
gulping. When a dog gulps down food, he is more likely to snip the
hand feeding it. Maverick has been taught to gently remove food or
treats from the hand giving it to him without harm.
While Maverick is a gentle giant he is also territorial with his
people and their things. Gene said that Maverick has never bitten
anyone, and does not show aggression in any way, but….there was this
one time.
Gene said he had pulled into Mel-O-Crème in Lincoln and hopped out
to go inside and grab a treat or two. Maverick stayed in the truck.
Inside a lady saw the dog and asked Gene if she could go pet him.
Gene said yes. Soon after the lady reported that when she went to
open the door of the truck, she got a clear message that the dog did
not think she should do that. Gene said it was a warning growl that
told the lady she should probably wait until ‘dad’ came back out of
the shop.
Maverick also gets a little perturbed at the family cat from time to
time, usually about lap privileges, but has never hurt the cat, just
made it clear the cat was on a lab that belonged to Mav.
As Maverick ages, the Hickey’s were asked what his future would be.
Gene and Marsha agree that Maverick is a lifetime pet and part of
the family. Gene said sadly, black labs have a life expectancy of
only about 10 years. But even so, the Hickeys have grown children
who also love the dog, and it is well understood that if anything
would happen that Gene and Marsha could no longer care for Maverick,
the kids would take him and make him a part of their family.
**** So, now you know Maverick, the
lover not a fighter. He’s a big, black, gentle giant who wants only
to make people happy with his special kind of comfort and therapy.
As LDN got to know the two dogs, it was easy to
respect both animals for who they are and what they do. Both animals
are courageous in different ways, both are completely loyal to their
owner/handler, both have senses and instincts that guide them
through the job at hand, and both are loved tremendously by those
who care for them.
And both know they have forever homes with the ones who have taken
them in. The love that is shared between the animals and their
owners is displayed differently to us on the outside looking in.
But, on the inside, where the heart is both dogs know they are loved
and have bright futures with happy endings.
Who could ask for anything more?
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