| THE JAGGED EDGE |
| The Sacramento SPCA interview in the Heartline Magazine - April 2010. Order one here. |
At the Jagged Edge in West Sacramento, commercial metal artist Martin creates evrything from a multi-ton freehand sculpture of a giraffe (donated to the Sacramento Zoo) to ornate steel benches for a shopping plaza. And in the middle of all the ruckus are Martin's beloved five-year-old Great Dane, Oswald ("Ozzy") and 10-year-old Cairn Terrier, Putter. "Ozzy has come here with me every day since he was nine weeks old," say Martin. "I wanted him to be well-rounded and really socialized, comfortable with things like getting in and out of cars and not being afraid of anything." Ozzy, who often seems oblivious to the goings-on in the studio, spends the better part of his day lounging and napping. "He mostly sleeps, either in the office or on his bed right here in the middle of everything. He knows how to open the office door himself," Martin says. "But believe me, he knows everything that happens around here. When I'm working late at night, I know that he's watching and listening for anyone who might be outside, and if he hears something, he goes nuts. I'm sure that big deep bark scares them off." Cairn Terrier Putter employs a more dynamic work style. "She obsesses all day on mice," says Martin. "They're like crack for her." Both dogs enjoy stuffed animals in their own way ("Putter guts 'em, Ozzy grooms 'em," Martin says) and occasionally play together. "She comes after him, and Ozzy will just flat-out run. She likes to latch onto his lips and just hang there and shake." A former EMT and cardiopulmonary perfusionist, Martin enjoys the laid-back ambience of his studio and the benefits of bringing the dogs to work. "It's like having someone around all day long who loves you," he says. "I can't imagine ever going back to my old life." |