Java the Mutt finds a new home at Guest House

[February 07, 2024]   Those who know Marilyn Wheat know that she is deeply invested in the Humane Society of Logan County and has a love for animals. So, it would not be shocking to see her in downtown Lincoln with a dog. But, when she walks into Guest House Coffee and Pastries carrying a dog covered in coffee beans, well that is a different story.

Tuesday morning, Wheat showed up at the popular coffee house downtown carrying a life-sized dog statue that was indeed covered in coffee beans. The dog, named Java the Mutt has been in the care of Dan and Marilyn Wheat for the last 21 years. The pair “adopted” the dog in 2003 when they participated in a fundraiser that was part of the Lincoln Sesquicentennial.

At the age of 21, the Wheats felt that Java was perhaps mature enough to “leave home” and find a new home to call his own, and Guest House seemed like the perfect location.

Inside the coffee house, owner/manager Ethan Hoinacki was in the cozy back room, working on his computer when Wheat walked in with the dog. His first sight brought an exclamation at the dog, and then at the fact that Wheat was carrying it when it had to be pretty heavy. It wasn’t for several seconds that he came to realize that the dog was a gift to him from the Wheats.

In preparation for the sesquicentennial in 2003, Main Street Lincoln instigated a plan to have these dog statues throughout the town. Each statue was decorated to the taste of the sponsor business. Java was sponsored by Coffee with Einstein in Lincoln, and it was Nathan Hall who spent what had to have been many hours meticulously placing coffee beans one by one all over the body of the dog.

For the fundraiser, the dogs were auctioned off for adoption, and the winning bidder received a “Certificate of Adoption.” The certificate for Java states that his breeder (sponsor) was Coffee with Einstein, his handler (artist) was Nathan Hall, and that he was adopted on August 29th, 2003 by Dan and Marilyn Wheat.

The certificate is signed by then Main Street Executive Director Cindy McLaughlin, and comes with a note, “Main Street Lincoln appreciates your adoption of the above named dog. Our dogs are all house-broken and well-behaved. We hope he brings you many years of companionship and joy.”

Marilyn said that she and Dan have enjoyed the dog for the past 21 years, and she has taken good care of him. “He looks as good as the day he was born,” she said.

Coffee with Einstein and Main Street Lincoln no longer exists, but Java the Mutt lives on, and is carrying on the legacy of those two establishments, while embracing a new home with another main stay in Lincoln.

Wheat said it seemed like a natural progression to pass Java on to Hoinacki. She noted that Hoinacki and Guest House are pro-active in the community, giving and supporting community events and helping to make the downtown area a popular location for visitors and locals.

Hoinacki said he appreciated the kind words from Wheat, and he marveled at the way the dog is covered with one of Hoinacki’s favorite commodities – coffee beans.

And what did Java have to say about all this? Well he’s not much of a talker, but the smile on his face seemed to say he was happy about his “grown-up” transition to a new home that is just as special as he is.

[Nila Smith]