DIESEL
Diesel, a 2-year-old Cane
Corso, is the face of
Black Dog Customs in
Madison where decommissioned
military vehicles get
a new life.
“We build ‘big boy toys,’
and basically fulfill a guy’s
childhood dreams of
having Humvees,” explains
owner Michael Vaden.
After starting the business,
which now has a
backlog of military vehicles
from all across the country
lined up waiting for a space
in his shop, he developed
a logo that features a black
Cane Corso, a noble breed
that’s part of the Mastiff
family.
It looks as tough and intimidating
as the Humvees
he works on, and he knew
he had to have one in real
life. He went on a nationwide
search for the uncommon
breed and ended up
finding Diesel just outside
of Atlanta. He’s rarely left
his side ever since.
“He just hangs out all the
time and goes pretty much
everywhere with me,” says
Vaden. “A big part of these
guys is socializing them,
so the fact that I do take
him everywhere makes a
difference.”
Diesel’s socialization has
given him somewhat of
a celebrity status around
town. “All the ladies at
48 LAKE OCONEE LIVING | SUMMER 2021