It’s time to #MeetWilden. Meet Higgins, a ninja-identifying Norwich Terrier.
1. What is your name and breed?
My name is Higgins. Although I most identify with being a very skilled ninja, my family would say I’m also a Norwich Terrier.
2. Which Wilden neighbourhood do you live in?
I live right across from the Hidden Lake park; I spend most of my day supervising it from my bay window. You might also see me out supervising the ducks at Hidden Lake in the evenings or on the weekend.
3. What do you do for work and where can we find you online?
I am an aspiring lifestyle model, but I primarily supervise our house and my mum while she works from home. When I do get out and about, you can follow my various adventures on Instagram by following @higgins.the.norwich on Instagram.
4. What do you do for play?
My favourite activity is meeting new dogs, but I do get kind of grouchy when they don’t want to be my friend. If I’ve barked at your beloved pup on the trails, I really apologize! I also love watching the ducks, chasing our sprinklers, going for walks, snooping of any kind, and any of the many dog-friendly patios in the Okanagan.
5. What is your secret superpower?
As a very talented ninja, I pride myself on being extremely smart and sneaky; I always know when my parents want me to do something and exactly how to leverage their desperation to get what I want. For example, if my parents ask me to come to them and offer me a single treat, this is when I shine. I will typically take that request as my cue to duck and weave, immediately running away from them to hold out for something a lot more valuable.
6. What are some of your favourite things about living in Wilden?
THE ANIMALS! In addition to the amazing ducks, those goofy little quails wander through my yard almost every day! I love barking at them; it’s the best! I’ve also seen raccoons, deer, all kinds of other birds, and so many dogs that just walk by my window all day long.
7. What is Kelowna’s best kept secret?
Well, I haven’t been here for that long yet, but I am really excited to visit the BNA Tasting Room, where I’m supposedly allowed to be with my family INDOORS. I honestly can’t even imagine how great that will be to visit with other dogs and maybe share some snacks with my parents — inside! Amazing.
8. What is your favourite locally made product?
I recently got to taste some of the Carmelis Farm feta cheese —*chef kiss.
9. If you could give $1M to charity, which one would you choose?
One of my favourite charities is the CNIB Foundation, particularly their Guide Dog program. I love dogs with jobs; and the special bond that these amazing pups have with their owners, helping them navigate through the world and feel safer and more confident every day. This is the second year I’ve participated in the CNIB PupCrawl fundraiser –a 5km adventure hike to raise money for them. If you’d like to donate to the fundraiser or see how I did, please click here!
10. What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I have paroxysmal dyskinesia, which is essentially a random cramping condition that gives me full-body cramps from time to time. Honestly, this condition sucks; it’s very unpredictable. The good news is that I have been working with a great neurologist at the VCA Animal Referral & Emergency Centre in Calgary for about a year to get a handle on it, and things are much better now. Since I started taking special medication, this condition is no longer getting in the way of my adventures!
11. If you weren’t living in the beautiful Okanagan, where would you live?
We just moved here from Red Deer, Alberta, in November so I would probably move back there and visit all my friends again –including all the deer and foxes who lived near my house. OR, I would maybe move to Saskatchewan to live with my grandparents at “ninja camp”. I love it there because they always take me on a ton of walks every day and have gophers, bunnies, and squirrels right in their yard that I love to chase.