We’re excited to launch The Pup Project presented by Whistle, a brand new series where we profile rad humans from the surf and outdoor worlds and their most trusted and loyal companions: their dogs. Dogs love endlessly and make our lives richer in so many ways. They just ask for a little affection and food in return. Totally fair trade. By the end of this project, we plan to have a rich collection of portraits (and video vignettes) with icons of surf and mountain sports and their pups that will one day make its way to your coffee table and help support a rescue shelter near you. Locally, Wags and Walks is dear to us.
We’re even more excited to kick this series off with our resident ray of sunshine, Kassia Meador.
Meet Iruka Meador
Breed: Shiba Inu
Age: 14
Favorite Food: Salmon
Tricks: Falling asleep standing up
Favorite Place: Beach
It’s a breezy summer afternoon in Venice, California, and Kassia Meador and her dog, Iruka, are taking a stroll through the neighborhood. The fourteen-year-old Shiba Inu leads the way.
“She’s my little spirit fox,” says Meador. “She’s my furry daughter, Iruka Meador.”
Kassia first met Iruka on a surf trip in Japan, and it was love at first sight.
“They had a little shop called Dolphin Surf Shop. I didn’t want to call her dolphin, so I called her the Japanese word for dolphin, which is Iruka.”
Iruka climbs up on Kassia’s lap on a park bench, and her eyes slowly shut. She’s sleeping while standing up, which is an impressive skill.
“She’s really caring, really curious. She doesn’t really do any tricks. I think her main trick is being really cute.”
Editor’s Note The Pup Project has been made possible by our friends at Whistle, the smarter way to keep tabs on your pet’s location and activity levels when they’re living it up, at home, in the park, or on the run. Learn more about Whistle here.
Look for new profiles on loyal companions to rad humans in surf and outdoors each month. If you have someone you’d like to see featured, by all means, shoot us a note at social@theinertia.com!
Kassia Meador and her lovable, 14-year-old Shiba Inu, Iruka. Photo: Dan Lemaitre/The Inertia
“She’s my furry daughter.” Photo: Dan Lemaitre/The Inertia
Iruka doing her favorite trick: falling asleep standing up. Photo: Dan Lemaitre/The Inertia
