Edmonton’s Fairmont Hotel Macdonald has checked-in its newest permanent resident — a five-year-old female Golden Labrador Retriever named Smudge. And with her arrival, the hotel becomes the first in Edmonto to employ a Canine Ambassador, joining eleven other Fairmont hotels that have implemented the program — and the response from guests has been overwhelming. Smudge and her owner arrived at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald from the Fairmont St Andrews, Scotland where she gained plenty of experience as Canine Ambassador ( http://www.fairmont.com/promotions/canineambassadors ) on the hotel’s Guest Services team. She’s also completed schooling provided by The Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind (http://www.guidedogs.ca ), but due to her social nature and tendency to become distracted by new people, she found it difficult to effectively carry out her duties. Luckily she’s a perfect fit for a hotel lobby, where she provides guests with a warm and friendly welcome and is readily available to accompany them on walks through downtown Edmonton and the river valley. Smudge will even be on call to join guests during meeting breaks upon request. At the end of her day, Smudge heads home where she is joyfully greeted by her family, headed by the hotel’s general manager, Garrett Turta. While off duty, Smudge lives a normal canine life and enjoys playing in the yard and exploring the area. Guests who would like to connect with Smudge can visit her Facebook page, “Smudge the Dog,” and can email her at [email protected]. For more on the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald visit http://www.fairmont.com/macdonald .