Louis Darocy completes some yardwork on a cloudy Tuesday morning. His dog, George, stays by his side, sniffing and exploring the Bundy Street yard.
This time each week, something comes over George. His ears perk at the hum of the garbage truck's engine, and his tail wags when it comes into view.
Jack Morris hops out of the truck and approaches the yard.
"How are you doing, George?" he asks as he pets the Scottish terrier's head and hands him a Milk-Bone biscuit. George takes one bone, drops it in the grass and goes back for a second one.
"This is what makes it all worth it," Mr. Morris said.
Mr. Morris' refuse collection route varies daily, but his love for animals is consistent. Mr. Morris, 62, greets each dog along his routes and gives him or her two Milk-Bones, a routine he has carried out for the past 25 years.
With owners' permission, he greets dogs near the sidewalk, in backyards or on porches. "When you sit there (in the truck) all day long and these dogs come barking at you with their tails going, it puts a smile on your face," he said.
Mr. Morris sees about 150 dogs each week, he said. This many dogs requires two 14-pound boxes of Milk-Bones per week, which he said he restocks at Sam's Club.
"This is a nice gesture on his part," Mr. Darocy said of Mr. Morris' generosity.
If he is absent, his fellow workers hand out the treats. "I try to make sure I have the Milk-Bones in my truck at all times," he said.
Nearby on Ferdinand Street lives Mariane Schaefferkoetter and her two dogs and three cats. Ms. Schaefferkoetter said one of the workers shared a special moment with her elderly English bulldog, Delilah, about a year and a half ago. He stepped onto the porch and sat with Delilah for a little while, she said.
"These men deserve credit because they certainly know how to handle the animals," she said.
Sometimes Mr. Morris runs out of Milk-Bones, but he does not ignore his canine friends. He said his fellow workers give up their own lunches to feed the dogs.
"It's the best part of our job," he said. "It puts a smile on everyone's face, including the owners."
As Mr. Morris prepares to leave, George puts his front paws on the fence and says goodbye to him. The small dog and his neighbor, Grizzly, a Norwegian elkhound, stare intently at the truck as it drives up Bundy Street, catching their last glimpse of Mr. Morris until the next Tuesday.
Contact the writer: shazen@timesshamrock.com