Senior and integrated strategic communication major, Robert “Rob” Kugler has walked a lifetime of experiences, and has an abundance of stories to tell. Accomplished veteran, author, photographer, brother and certified dog-lover, this WSU Vancouver student has no shortage of talents to show the world.
Originally from Nebraska, Kugler has embraced a life of travel from the day he was born. When he branched out of his community and ventured across the country with his adored labrador, Bella, Kugler threw himself at every opportunity to meet people from numerous backgrounds. After Bella was diagnosed with a terminal illness, he decided to bring her everywhere; she served as an instant magnet for conversations with new acquaintances as they ventured from state to state.
“Learning other people’s stories gives us an opportunity to see the world through someone else’s perspective. … Each time we do that, we widen our own. Having a strong bond with an animal can open up a perspective beyond humanity.” – Rob Kugler.
“That was one of the biggest things about my labrador Bella,” Kugler explained. “She was like the gateway to [connection] because she was kind of like an actual manifested living creature of love.”
The bond between Kugler and his dog serves as the perfect example of “a man’s best friend.” Despite growing up with cats, his fascination with dogs inspired his relationship with Bella and his three current pups, Max, Jasper and Ginger. The connection between man and dog is one that Kugler describes as invaluable.
“In the military, we always had a battle buddy, where you always just have someone watching your back,” Kugler said. “In life, your own spouse and children need to also live their own lives, but when you form that relationship with your dog, you are their life in a way.”
Through his novel “A Dog Named Beautiful: A Marine, a Dog, and a Long Road Trip Home,” Kugler and Bella’s relationship demonstrates what it means to have a bond of unconditional love. Kugler conveys how humans can learn from a dog’s forgiving and loving nature. Even though people do not lap water out of a bowl, or howl when a fire truck blares past, dog-like friendliness is a perspective that is priceless to have, and a subject Kugler feels everyone should sympathize with.
“Learning other people’s stories gives us an opportunity to see the world through someone else’s perspective,” Kugler stated. “Each time we do that, we widen our own. Having a strong bond with an animal can open up a perspective beyond humanity.”
Just as Kugler has encountered vast amounts of people with endless backgrounds and perspectives, his endeavors across the country have also led him to new locations. During his travels through the West Coast, he says he found his unique conversations with others to be centered around a unifying love for the environment.
“Beach towns and mountain towns have been my favorite places in the country. What I love about them most [is that] every one that is there wants to be there in that geographical location and they are happy,” Kugler said.
Those who have traveled into the majestic hills and trails of the Pacific Northwest know how beautiful the scenery is. As a photographer, Kugler continues to document his journey through his Instagram, @robkugler. His goal is to capture the essence and intimacy of amazing moments occurring in nature and convey them to his 72,000 followers.
Kugler, who has what he describes as terabytes-upon-terabytes of photos, not only uses photography to preserve the memorable moments of a setting, but also to narrow his vision through the craft of a lens. As much as he opens his mind to the perspectives of people, he also utilizes his work to focus on the warmth of a single moment in the present.
“If I look at something and it makes me feel some way, then I want to take a picture of it, and I want someone else who can’t be here to be able to feel that thing,” said Kugler.
Make sure to keep your eyes open on campus as Kugler hopes to bring his lively border collies, Jasper and Max, to WSU Vancouver. You may be the next person who has the privilege to make a connection with him and his fascinating four-legged friends.
Through the story of Bella and her welcoming heart, Kugler hints at his ambition to write more books in the future. Moving forward, he intends to aim his work more towards content sur- rounding the process of raising his child, Ivy Jeanne, along with his wife, a registered nurse, Kristen. As of now, you can continue to explore more of Kugler’s Instagram, and find his book online through Amazon or other major booksellers to read his story.
“We just really need to work on being open to hearing each other’s stories,” Kugler said. “I feel like if we could just take time to really focus on those things that we have in common … then we can help be the change that we all want to see.”
Andrew is a junior studying English and Digital Technology and Culture at WSU Vancouver.