Matthew Good greets me, leading me inside his open concept condo. With his foot, he casually lifts and tosses a ball into the air. A small terrier cross skitters after it, then carries his catch up onto the sofa. After introductions that include the dogs, I sit across from this soft-spoken musician and we begin our conversation about his dogs, and his support of a fundraiser for his local SPCA.

Like his most recent release, Matthew Good gives the real goods – live and unedited. A self-proclaimed defender of those who don’t have a voice, it’s no real surprise that Good speaks out for the underdog. His fans are aware of his role as a human rights activist, but there is much more about the man who bears out his apt surname.
Paws for a Cause, an annual Vancouver SPCA fundraiser, was introduced to Good by his friend Keira, and SPCA animal protection officer Angela Mead. The money raised helps provide food, shelter and medical assistance to abused and abandoned animals. Given the cause and his connection with animals and activism in other areas, Good said of his involvement, “It was something that just made sense.”

Despite the business he’s in, Good is not an attention-seeker. He felt that if he could help in some way, his association was “purely for the benefit of the animals.” They decided to make it a feature issue on his web site and once he made the initial post linking to Paws for a Cause, donations quickly began rolling in supporting his friend Keira’s entry. She had registered under the names of Good’s dogs – (at right, left to right) ‘Benji,’ ‘Casey,’ ‘Pete’ and ‘Bella’ – with a fundraising goal of $7,500.

When asked about supporting the fundraiser, Good is quick to state another goal of importance to him: “It was more about the awareness.” He talks passionately about the responsibility of caring for a dog, wanting more people to be aware of this and how much work and effort comes with being a responsible owner. “Some of the dogs may need a little more work in the beginning,” he said of dogs adopted from the SPCA, “but it’s always worth putting in that extra time and effort.”

The Good dogs
These days, Good lives with two delightful small dogs, Casey and Benji, both rescued from unfortunate circumstances.

He goes on to express his views on the importance of spaying and neutering, especially if living in an urban setting. Good always comes back to talking about care and responsibility with our pets. Meanwhile, from the sofa Casey is watching the goings-on beyond the window and Benji has settled in at Good’s feet. He talks quietly to them and each time he uses their names in discussion, they turn to him with full attention.

The Paws for a Cause is a family affair for Good – his mother and other family members also participate on the day of the fundraiser. When he was growing up, Good’s parents had a female terrier cross and when she had pups, he says, “We kept the two sons.” He grew up with these three dogs that lived to about 17 or 18 years old.

After his divorce, Good had four dogs and, always wanting the best for the dogs, two went to live with his parents. He talks about how well Pete, his Dachshund, adjusted because of having previously bonded with his father while Good was away on a long road trip. Bella, another rescue, took longer to make the adjustment.

Listening to him talk about the dogs in this way, his deep concern and understanding of his dogs’ emotions is evident. Several times he brought up the strain of having to separate the dogs at that time. “It was a very difficult thing to do.”

Good talks openly about the comfort his dogs bring him, and their unconditional love during some difficult times he’s expe-rienced. Those of you who are fans and follow his blog will know how candid he is about his experiences and the depth of his feelings for the dogs.
Good becomes animated when talking about the personalities of his dogs and how they interact with each other. With that sustained vibrancy, he shares details about the dogs, describing each in terms of their cunning, intelligence or bravery, for instance, and we burst into laughter as he shares stories about their antics.

So what does a musician do with his dogs when he’s on tour? When his Dachshund Pete was young, Good left him with his parents while he was away on a road trip. He’s fortunate that either his parents or a friend will dog sit when he’s out of town. In the past, he has taken the dogs on the road with him, but only for up to a week. Good explains that when they have been on the bus with him, “They get quite excited about it. They sleep with me in my bunk.” But he also realizes it gets too crowded for everyone if the dogs are along.

Absolute responsibility
Our discussion finds its way back to the theme of responsibility. Good talks about pet ownership that’s for the wrong reasons: “Whether it’s girls who buy Chihuahuas for accessories or guys who buy pit bulls to look tough, and they end up in the pound three months later…. There has to be absolute responsibility and dedication if you’re going to have an animal.”

As we wind up our conversation, Good is concerned that it’s time to take the dogs outside. We leave the condo together, Good’s attention primarily with the dogs. He doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk.

By Diane M. Schuller
Diane M. Schuller is a freelance writer, an award-winning fiction writer, and a proud member of the Dog Writers Association of America. She writes from a farm near Hythe, Alta. with her three office assistants, ‘Maggie’ an English Springer Spaniel, and Australian Shepherds ‘Pearl’ and ‘Austin,’ who ensure she gets outside to walk and play.

(Originally appeared in our December 2008 issue)