Dilworth neighbor Lori Culicerto told Reagan's story in the magazine in her own words. A six-year campaign by the family's youngest daughter is where it starts.
Reagan is an Irish setter and poodle mix, born August 22, 2017. The family brought her home that October, after their youngest daughter had spent six years asking for a dog. Asking, Lori Culicerto writes, is the polite word. Begging is closer.
"Giving in was one of the best decisions we've made, because Reagan has brought so much joy to our entire family," she writes. The name is no accident: Reagan is named after President Ronald Reagan.
Rounds, then bed
Each night Reagan makes her rounds, dividing her time between every member of the household. She especially loves sleeping in the bed, usually on her back with her legs straight up in the air, "which never fails to make us laugh," Culicerto writes.
Her "paw" friends
Reagan has a circle of neighborhood friends. Teddy King, who lives behind the Culicertos, likes to sneak through the fence to play, and Reagan often goes on walks with Iris and Boston Herring.
Her absolute favorite thing is the beach, where she can run free chasing birds and tennis balls with her friends Derby and Daisy Rentch. Beach days are just about the only time she willingly wakes up early. Otherwise she is an easygoing traveler. "You barely even notice she's in the car," Culicerto writes.
Always at the door
No matter how long the family has been gone, Reagan is at the door to greet them, proudly carrying one of her toys. She is, by her family's admission, definitely spoiled, and she loves perching on the back of the couch to keep watch as neighbors pass by.
"We truly can't imagine life without her," Culicerto writes.
This story appears in the July 2026 issue of Stroll Dilworth.