As an assistant professor of emergency medicine, a cardiothoracic surgery intensivist, and an associate medical director of the UW Organ and Tissue Donation Service, Matthew McCauley ’12’s day job keeps him on his toes. Luckily, his dog, a Samoyed named Bascom, is content just lying around. The 55-pound ball of white fluff is “essentially a living stuffed animal,” says McCauley. From the Lakeshore Path to his little (human) brother’s day care, Bascom is a crowd favorite everywhere he goes, even if he prefers to go nowhere.
How did Bascom come into your life?
We got him as a puppy. I think he was three months old. My now-wife, [Kelsey McCauley ’12], and I got him while we were both living in Chicago during my first year of residency training. That was a time of great stress for me. But coming home from the emergency department when you’re a brand-new, baby doctor, and having his goofy, smiling face looking at you like you’re the best thing in the world is pretty awesome.
How did you choose his name?
It’s after Bascom Hill. We were thinking about different Madison-themed names for a dog. I think Randall came up. We thought Mendota would’ve been a good girl name. But she thought of Bascom, and it stuck. Most people hear “Baskin” and think Baskin-Robbins, or they hear “Tabascan” and think he’s named Tabasco. It’s been good being back in Madison because we have to explain the name a lot less.
What is Bascom’s temperament?
Bascom is the exact opposite of a bossy dog, he’s pretty mellow.
We brought him to my child’s day care for day care pickup, and all the children in the entire place put their hands on him. He’s just remarkably patient with things like that and has always been that way. The first week we had him, I have the distinct memory of being in Door County, Wisconsin, and having a horde of three- and four-year-olds petting this dog that looks like a polar bear. I was terrified that they’re going to stick their little hands in his mouth and I’m going to be in trouble. But he took it like a champ.
Is he your only pet?
He is our only pet. There’s been an adjustment period for him, having an infant in the house. He wasn’t exactly thrilled. He thinks we had a good thing going, just the three of us for a while. But I think especially as our son, Noah, has started to eat actual food and throw it on the floor, he and Bascom are starting to get along a little bit better.
Party trick?
He can shake. He’s much better at shaking with the right than the left. And he can play approximately 75 percent of the game of fetch because he is not a fan of giving the ball up. He hasn’t learned that in his eight years, and I don’t think he’s going to learn it.
Hidden talents?
He’s got a set of pipes on him. He can sing, for sure. Samoyeds are known for this “aroo awoo,” type of thing, which he will occasionally do. He’s very good at voicing his displeasure. So if you’ve been gone for too long, he’ll sort of give this low growl at you that he probably thinks is intimidating, but it’s actually adorable.
Biggest fear?
Thunder. He’ll let you know that there’s a thunderstorm about 1,000 miles away. He has an uncanny ability to let that be known, and occasionally he will demand to be let out of the house when there’s thunder because he thinks that that is a way for him to escape the thunder. And every time very quickly learns that that is not true.
If he’s in trouble for something, what is it most likely that he’s done?
He chewed through my glasses once, which was my impetus to get LASIK, so I guess he did me that favor.
Favorite food?
Bascom’s favorite food is whatever you’re eating, but he will do his part for the environment by cleaning all the residual yogurt out of any yogurt container.
Favorite TV show?
Anything vaguely dog-shaped on the TV. His personal impression of his self-image might be more wolf-like than it actually is. … He’s probably closer to a Pokémon than an actual dog.
Favorite toys or activities?
He loves being outside, especially when it’s like -10 degrees. Other than being outside when it’s too cold to be outside, and then just laying around, he’s not a super, super active guy. Unfortunately, he had elbow surgery when he was about four, and he’s still got some residual arthritis from that. He still walks and does all that good stuff, but I don’t think he’d pull a sled anytime soon, which would be what he was ostensibly bred for.
Favorite spot to sleep?
We have purchased him a bed, which my wife is convinced that he loves. But he is just as happy sleeping on the cold floor. I think his favorite spot, especially during the summer, is the bathroom. He will even sleep in the shower.
Favorite place on campus?
The Lakeshore Path.
If Bascom was in medicine, what specialty would he practice?
Pediatrics.
