Steven Walker, of Walker Creative, Inc., is someone who wears many hats —
designer, drummer, illustrator, creative collaborator, and more. But it’s easy to see that he enjoys one role quite a bit — dog dad.
Walker and his wife, Jill, now own one Beagle, June, but Walker’s love of animals goes back to his first pet. Growing up in a military family meant he spent a lot of time traveling, a lifestyle not conducive to pet ownership. It wasn’t until college that Walker acquired his first pet, a Siamese cat named Tomi, known for her playful antics such as climbing the bamboo wallpaper in his parents’ home.
Years later, another feline companion came into Walker’s life when his twin brother, Stanley, rescued a kitten at a stoplight corner. The kitten, Bob, was in terrible condition, so he brought it to their studio, Walker Recording Studio, to bring back to health. Although the vet discovered that Bob was a girl, it was decided that her name should remain, and Bob became a wellknown figure around the studio. She was loved by the patrons there and lived happily for 22 years at the studio and at home with Stanley.
Beagle Bit
Although Walker’s first pets were cats, he
has owned several dogs since marrying Jill, whom he credits for her wisdom and emotional connection to their many pets over the years.
“My wife is the person our pets are attached to at the hip. She has insight on their emotions that sometimes I miss because I’m gone during the day,” Walker explains. “I’ve learned quite a bit from Jill, especially in the early days. I never had had a dog before, but she had many growing up. I rely on her and appreciate her love of Beagles and of all animals.”
The couple’s first Beagle, Kishi, whom they got in 1981, started a lifetime love of the breed, even though they acquired her sight unseen.
“Kishi turned out to be such a kind soul that from that point on, we were Beagle bit,” Walker says. Kishi passed away 10 years later, shortly after the Walkers’ daughter was born, and it wasn’t until years later that the family was ready for another pup. When their children, Bailey and Joe, were older, the Walkers decided it was time for another dog. They wanted their kids to experience the same joy and love from dogs that they had.
The Walkers met Belle at a family farm that had a lot of puppies available, and they were drawn to Belle’s calm demeanor among a group of playful pups.
Walker explains, “I felt Belle was the underdog puppy in the large group and that maybe she needed a new environment.” As she settled into their family, Belle flourished, and soon afterward, the Walkers added another Beagle, Lucy, a sister and playmate for Belle. The two lived happily with the Walkers until 2009 and 2010, respectively, when the dogs passed away. Walker says Belle’s sweet nature and Lucy’s charming, soft howl were some of his favorite things about them, further solidifying the family’s love of the breed.
Photo courtesy of Steven Walker.
Loved and Spoiled
In 2012 and 2015, the family took in their next Beagles, Mae and June. Unfortunately, Mae had been rescued from a situation in which she was not being cared for. The Walkers had to take her immediately to an emergency vet clinic, where she was hospitalized for several days. Thankfully, she pulled through and began an amazing life with the Walker bunch, where she had constant love and companionship with her family and her doggy sister, June.
Sadly, Mae passed away at the young age of eight from lymphoma, just two weeks after diagnosis, but her life had been filled
with love and happiness. Walker describes her as a gentle soul and recalled the time when she softly picked up a baby rabbit and then put it down as soon as his wife instructed her to do so. The rabbit was unharmed and hopped away just fine.
After Mae died, June struggled deeply with depression at the loss of her sister. June had been the runt of her litter when she was scooped up as a puppy by the Walker family and had only known life with her big sister Mae. Now the family has found a new normal, and June has started to act like her happy self again after taking some time to heal.
June loves other animals and loves to play. Walker says one of his favorite times with June is when he gets home from work. “She is so happy to see me when I get home,” he says, “and even if I just want to lounge and relax, when I see her acting like a puppy, it inspires me to get down and play. She brings so much joy.”
June spends her days being loved and spoiled and is ready to greet each morning with a walk.
“In the past, I would get up in the morning, work out, and then take June for a walk,” Walker says. “Like Pavlov’s dog, June became aware that she would get a walk after my workout and became more anxious, excited, and impatient the longer I took. From her point of view, these workouts took way too long!”
Now that Joe, Walker’s son, is home from college, he has taken over June’s morning routine and regularly takes her on long walks, which she loves.
Walker has been lucky enough to have had many beloved pets in his life, and he recognizes many creative, physiological, and physical benefits of having owned those animals. From a never-ending supply of artistic inspiration to the daily love and companionship they provide, Walker is a happy man to have loved so many wonderful pets. “When I’m with June, I can’t help but smile and be happy. It doesn’t matter what’s happening in my life … my animals have always made it better.
