I Work With Animals! Ron Trotta and Schmitty the Weather Dog

Name: Ron Trotta
Age: 50+
Job Title: Meteorologist With Schmitty the Weather Dog

How did you end up working with Schmitty?
During the 2008 presidential election, I traveled 8,000 miles across the country with Schmitty and "entourage" on the Bark the Vote tour to help get out the vote, raise awareness and visit animal shelters across the country. I started including Schmitty on my daily "Climate of the Election" weather reports as we crisscrossed the U.S.A.

When and how did Schmitty's talents get discovered?
We were doing a weather report on top of a mountain in Trinidad, Colo. I was holding Schmitty, preparing to talk about the temperature and the wind, when I suddenly got this vibe from Schmiitty that the unusually warm weather was all about high pressure. It was an ESP kind of a moment. That's when I found out Schmitty the Weather Dog has a nose for the weather.

How does Schmitty predict the weather?
The correct term is "pawcast." Psychics "predict" things. Schmitty has a nose and an ear for the weather. Schmitty has focused that very keen canine sense of smell and hearing on detecting pressure changes in the atmosphere and the movement of air masses around the planet. Her forecasts, which are communicated subliminally to me, are 99 percent dead-on accurate. Schmitty helps me be a better meteorologist.

What is a typical day on the job like?
Schmitty eats four times a day, so the shooting, editing and social networking schedule has to work around organic meal times.

Schmitty loves to play ball and exercise in the morning. Then our producer/director/camera person/chief bottle washer scouts locations and makes sure that Schmitty has her wardrobe prepared for the day, usually Schmitty's signature sunglasses, special collar & wardrobe depending on the weather, festivities, or location of the shoot.

Where are you currently based with Schmitty?
Schmitty the Weather Dog is also known as Schmitty the Real New Yorkie. Schmitty's home is New York City. In February, Schmitty will once again be the official weather dog for the Westminster Dog Show. We stay at the New Yorker Hotel and pawcast the weather for Westminster for the seven days leading up to and during the big dog show.

This past summer, Schmitty was invited to be the "Weather Dog in Residence" at the Hyatt Regency Hotel & Spa in Newport, R.I. At the end of her stay, Schmitty was named Honorary Ambassador of Newport by the Newport Convention and Visitors Bureau. The hotel has already asked Schmitty and "entourage" back to report the weather next summer.

What's the most challenging part of your job?
Helping Schmitty keep our weather pawcasts accurate and entertaining. The weather is the weather, and broadcast meteorologists must always deal with the temptation to go overboard to make the weather more than it is to please their news directors and garner ratings. With Schmitty, the weather is a fun way to connect with all the people who love animals and love the weather.

Do you have any advice for animal lovers who have a pet with a special talent?
There are two ways to deal with a pet that has a special talent:
1. Enjoy it and let that pet simply enrich your life.
2. Abandon your life as you know it and tell the world about your pet's talent.

You can learn more about Schmitty the Weather Dog at her official site, or watch her pawcasts on her YouTube channel. Also be sure to check out Ron and Schmitty's appearance on Urlesque's Urly Show podcast.

Tags: ron trotta, schmitty the weather dog