While she was a student at UNT, Amy Shank Fiala ('04) took her Great Dane, Kya, with her everywhere.
Kya ran and chased squirrels in the greenspace near the Art Building. She sat on the floor while Fiala chatted with friends at Lucky Lou's. Fiala almost brought Kya to class once, but then thought better of it.
Fiala obviously loved dogs. Now living in Austin, she's turned a solo dog walking venture into Game Time Dog Services, which employs 14 people. The company boasts its own spin-off, A Wedding Tail, in which she and other employees look after pets during weddings.
The service has become a big hit, with the company booked about three weekends a month for the ceremonies.
"When the bride and groom see their fur baby, it's a magic moment," she says. "You can see the love between them. It adds a level of love to the event."