For My Dogs
This one’s for my dogs. Plain and simple.
For several months now, a number of you have been asking me to write something about my dogs, Tony and Clarabelle. Although they’ve both made a few cameos on Facebook and Twitter, these two have yet to receive a feature of their own here on The Renaissance Garden Guy site, and their stories remain largely untold.
Today, with this piece, I’m giving these two the recognition they deserve. And, as much as I wanted to oblige you, my dear readers, I’ve really written this for Tony and Clarabelle. They’re my dogs. My family. I love them more than words can express. They pounce and they pester. They pee in the house sometimes, and they steal food whenever they can. They grunt, bark, snort, and fart. They shed little hairs everywhere. And they dream. They’d die for me without hesitation. My dogs. They deserve this one.
And something else…
Their individual pasts are tragic, and their stories need to be told. What they once endured at the hands of humankind is atrocious. I’m hoping this telling will be something of a “catharsis by proxy” for them. And I’m hoping it will be a testament to all of dogkind’s character, fortitude, and limitless capacity for forgiveness of the sins of cruelty committed by a far less noble species.
So, here’s a formal introduction to Tony and Clarabelle, my dogs. My loves.
Tony
Vital Statistics
Breed: American Pit Bull Terrier.
Sex: Male.
Age: Almost 11.
Height: 19″ at the shoulder.
Weight: 70 pounds. He’s gotten a bit plump (the whole pandemic thing).
Aliases: Seutonius. Tony Bologna. Bologna Sandwich. The Earl of Sandwich.
Friendliness-to-humans factor: Extremely High. He’ll climb into a stranger’s lap seeking and administering heaps of sloppy affection. He loves people to the point of being acutely pesty.
Friendliness-to-other-canines factor: Low. He’s a game bred APBT (American Pit Bull Terrier) with generation after generation of dogfighting in his blood.* And he is dog-aggressive. Friendly toward other dogs? Not so much.
*A note about game bred APBTs: My ownership of American Pit Bull Terriers has necessitated tons of research on my part. And it necessitates an explanation of my dog ownership philosophy. First, I’ll tell you that, with the exception of my first two dogs, I’ve never sought to acquire any dog of a specific breed. In fact, I’ve never sought to acquire any dog at all. My dogs and I have always found each other. And I mean this in the most literal sense. And the research I’ve done on APBTs? The results were surprisingly ironic. Fighting dogs are actually docile and extremely loving and friendly toward humans. From the very beginnings of the abhorrent activity of organized dogfighting, humans needed to be able to handle dogs who were locked in horrendous combat with one another. Specifically, the human handler would need to be able to handle his (or her) own dog’s canine opponent. This “dog match” (as these inhumane spectacles were called) protocol precluded cheating on the part of the dogs’ handlers. Therefore, these ferocious, physically unstoppable fighting dogs would need to remain docile while interacting with an unfamiliar human dog handler during the heat of brutal battle, and often while seriously injured. These dogs had to allow humans to extensively (and often invasively) handle them. Any time one of them turned its aggression toward a human handler, it was immediately shot and killed. This unfathomably cruel practice resulted in the elimination of the trait of human aggression in old line, fighting APBT populations. People-biting was effectively bred out of these lines. At this point, it’s critical that you understand that I am not an expert in canine behavior, and I’m not issuing any guarantees regarding the disposition of any dog toward any human being. I’m simply relaying what I’ve read, from a number of sources over the years. And I’m using this information to explain the canine-canine and canine-human dynamics as they exist in my own home.
Back to Tony…
Tony at Home
Tony’s inability to peacefully coexist with other dogs has resulted in the implementation of various “creative adaptability” measures at home to ensure that there’s no discord, let alone all-out fighting, amongst my pit bull population of two. It’s a lot of work keeping everyone safe and happy. I won’t trouble you with the details, but it should suffice to say that everything – from walks to feeding to watching television – takes twice as long (and requires ten times the vigilance) as it would have had a pair of Yellow Labs been living here, rather than two, full-on APBTs.
That all being said, Tony is the friendliest, most docile little soul you could ever imagine as far as his disposition toward humans is concerned. Not just his humans, all humans. He loves people, and that’s all there is to it. When my 91 year old Mom comes to visit, he can’t stop himself from trying to climb into her lap. He absolutely loves her. That’s Tony.
And he’s genial toward the frogs who live in our ponds, and the toads who populate our gardens. He checks them out, goes nose to nose with each one he meets, and ambles peacefully on his way. The frogs and toads of our land have come to accept Tony as one of their own. Tony Among the Amphibians.
How Tony Came to Live with Us
I got Tony when he was approximately two years old (his veterinarian estimated his age as such). And he came to be mine in a fashion, and under a set of circumstances, which led me to infer that his life to that point had been one of misery, characterized by not just mistreatment, but abject abuse. The following is what led me to draw these conclusions. The following is how it went down.
I first met Tony on a late Saturday afternoon, on the date of my parents’ wedding anniversary, in fact. I was on my way home after working, driving down an industrial access road, when a car, travelling a few hundred yards ahead of mine in the same direction, slowed (the brake lights briefly came on) and pulled over to the shoulder. The passenger side door of this car (which never came to a complete stop) opened, and a dog was ejected onto the side of this busy roadway. Once this dog was apparently oriented, it made a beeline for the middle of the blacktop. This dog was Tony, and he was almost pasted by an oncoming semi within three seconds of my first sight of him. With Tony’s erstwhile means of transportation rapidly disappearing beyond the horizon, and Tony himself running down the center of a busy access road, there was nothing for it but to try to bundle him into my truck as quickly as possible.
And that’s what I did.
I stopped where I was (with thankfully nothing coming in either direction at that second) and called to him, with my door open and me halfway in and halfway out of the truck. He looked at me, paused for the eternity of a millisecond, wagged his tail, and jumped right past me into the passenger seat. And it was settled. Instantly old friends.
Once Tony (his name came to me unbidden the second we locked eyes) was safely in the truck, I pulled off the pavement and took stock. He wasn’t in great shape. A bit malnourished, maybe. And he had some fresh wounds on his neck and head. I recognized him as a Pitbull (as APBTs are often called), and his history, part of which I read in his wounds, was made all the more horrific by what I didn’t know. A dog thrown out of a moving car, with fighting wounds about his neck and head, could not have been living on easy street. I could only guess at what other horrors this dog had experienced. It wasn’t until much later that my thoughts turned to those in the car that sped away, and the evil acts they committed. To this day, they remain unforgiven.
I’m just glad I was in the right place at the right time. And as for Tony, he’s never looked back.
Clarabelle
Vital Statistics
Breed: American Pit Bull Terrier.
Sex: Female.
Age: 14 – 15 (as estimated by her veterinarian).
Height: 14″ at the shoulder.
Weight: 45 pounds. She’s not fat.
Aliases: The Piglet. The Walrus. Cutie. Clarabelle the Terri-belle. Coral Bell.
Friendliness-to-humans factor: Extremely high. She’s wary initially (due to extreme previous abuse, as you’ll shortly read), but almost instantly is prepared to cuddle and kiss. Excessively. Everyone. Constantly. She is a cuddle-bug.
Friendliness-to-other-canines factor: Extremely high. Although she is also a game bred APBT, she is not dog-aggressive. She enjoys the company of other dogs. She is game, but not aggressive. There’s a difference. It means that she won’t pick a fight, but she definitely won’t back down from one, either.*
*A note about “gameness,” canine aggression, and the relationship between Tony and Clarabelle: As mentioned, Tony is pretty dog-aggressive. Clarabelle is not. They both, however, are game. Which means they’re up for any challenge or task, and they won’t stop until they complete it. And that includes getting into a scrap and trying to win it. In spite of the hypervigilance Dee Dee and I constantly exercise, and the precautions we always take, Tony and Clarabelle did get into it once. They were separated quickly, and before they did any harm to one another. It was awful. But it was also clear that neither one of them was going to stop. Again, they were not hurt , and neither were we. And we’ve taken further steps to guarantee that it never happens again.
The relationship between Clarabelle and Tony is complicated. Clarabelle loves Tony. And Tony does love her back. He tolerates her far more than he would any other dog. But Clarabelle is pesty and rambunctious. She often tries to goad her less enthusiatic brother into playing with her through the employment of various annoying and persistent techniques. It’s at these times that we remain the most vigilant. We generally keep them occupied in different parts of the house throughout the day. They do love each other, you must understand, but the terrible legacy of their breed’s heritage will always lie within their hearts.
By no means should my lucidity in relaying this information ever be even remotely construed as cavalierism. I’m not “OK” with dogs fighting with each other and I don’t feel that discussions about one dog “standing up” to another are ever appropriate. This is simply my reality. I chose to rescue each of these dogs from certain death, and a corresponding miserable life leading to that inevitable denouement. Their baggage is now my baggage. And that’s something I am OK with.
Clarabelle at Home
Clarabelle is the most affable, playful, cuddly, wiggly, pesty, mischevious, gluttonous, glorious little being I’ve ever encountered. She’s a pistol and a stick of dynamite in one stout little package. Her curiosity is insatiable, and her domestic explorations are endless. She routinely rearranges our closets. But Clarabelle is happiest when she’s cuddling with a human. Nothing else comes close. Except food, sometimes.
And Clarabelle loves deer. We’ve got a sizable population of White-tailed deer here in our part of the midwest, and groups of them routinely forage on our land. These deer are accustomed to people and dogs. They often come within inches of us when we’re out among the trees on our property. If Clarabelle’s around when deer get close to us, she’ll literally go nose to nose with them. She is curious about them, but very friendly and gentle toward them. And they seem to be just as curious about her, and equally gentle. It’s a marvel to watch these interactions.
This little soul has been an infinite source of joy and comfort from the moment I made her mine. She is powerfully bonded to me and leaves my side only to rearrange a closet or steal food. She is protective of her home and family while remaining curious but friendly toward strangers. In so many ways, she’s proof that good things do come in (comparatively) small packages.
Health Issues
Clarabelle has seen her share of health crises in her time. In 2016, she was diagnosed with mammary ductile cancer, and two inguinal hernias. She underwent a radical mastectomy (all of her mammary glands, ducts, nipples, lymph nodes, and underlying tissues were removed), and had the hernias repaired over the course of five separate surgeries. She did not undergo any chemotherapy or radiation treatments. The surgeries were successful, and Clarabelle has remained both cancer-free and hernia-free for almost six years. In early 2020, she suffered an acute episode of canine vestibular syndrome, which causes severe balance and orientation issues, and which never entirely goes away. The same year, she developed spondylosis and some corresponding degenerative disc issues in her lower back. But none of these conditions have slowed Clarabelle down. She lives life fully (albeit a bit wobbly from time to time) and happily. She is, in all other respects, incredibly healthy.
How Clarabelle Came to Live with Us
I first spotted Clarabelle from my truck one late afternoon, while she was running along the side of the very same industrial access road where Tony was rescued. It was a several months later, but in almost exactly the same area. She was filthy and very thin, almost skeletal. Even from my truck, I could see that she had mange. And I would discover soon enough that, like Tony, she had at some point sustained injuries from fighting. I slowed, pulled along beside her, and called to her. She was obviously terrified and she continued to run, altering her path in an effort to get away from me. Because there was traffic behind me, I had to continue driving. But I turned around and went back to the same general vicinity of where I’d last seen her. No dice. Couldn’t find her. I decided to make a few more passes, and widen my search. After what seemed like dozens and dozens of passes, I spotted her. And she was in a most unlikely place, and in a very puzzling situation.
I found her behind the fence of a large vacant facility, sitting expectantly (it appeared) outside a small security office located near a large gate. (I’ll leave the name and nature of this facility out of the story – it’s not at all important.) Sure enough, a man came out of the security office and tossed what appeared to be a scrap of food to the little red-and-white-colored dog. She accepted the food, but didn’t get terribly close to the man. I pulled up to the closed sliding gate and got out of my truck. The man approached, and then the little dog did, too. She came slowly toward me as I spoke to her. Then I extended my hand toward her through an opening in the gate. She hesitated only for a moment, and placed her head into the palm of my hand. She wagged her tail. Then she sighed.
At this point the man from the security office spoke. After expressing total surprise at her instant friendliness toward me (she would not, according to this man, let anyone get close to her), he told me her story. She had apparently shown up about a month before. He didn’t know how, or from where. (Another witness, working at a neighboring facility, would later relay to me the following horrifying facts about Clarabelle’s arrival: This witness had been working at his job at the nearby facility when he saw a car pull off to the side of the access road. Two young men got out of the car, opened the trunk, grabbed the little dog, and threw her out onto the side of the road. They then proceeded to throw beer bottles and rocks at her to chase her away, so that they could get back into the car and drive off. Which they did, leaving the terrified and disoriented dog to fend for herself.)
The job of the man in the security office was to watch over this huge expanse of forbidding land, upon which stood, in addition to his small security office, some vacant, dilapidated buildings. It was within one of these vacant buildings (with concrete floors and no doors or windows) that the dog had been sleeping since the day she showed up. It was the very end of October and the weather was turning cold. This man’s employers would not allow him to bring her into his heated security office. Not even for a second. (But he did, very kindly, bring food from home for her.) He further informed me that local teenagers had recently tried to break into the fenced area and had been throwing rocks at the little dog, and chasing her.
Time was running out for her. So I made the decision, right then and there, to bring her home. But there was a catch. I wasn’t going home that evening and I had no way to keep her until I did get home. I made the painful but unavoidable decision to leave her, and come back for her the next morning. As I drove away that afternoon, I looked in my rearview mirror as she chased after my truck, barking frantically.
I spent a sleepless night away from home, thinking about my little dog the whole time. By then, I was thinking of her as mine. Morning couldn’t come fast enough. As soon as the sun came up, I drove the longest hour of my life back to the gate of the ruined facility which had harbored her for the last month. As I drove closer to the gate, I could see her there. She was sitting in exactly the same spot she was in when she first put her head in my hand. When I pulled up, and she realized it was me, she shot out from around the gate to greet me, wagging her tail and jumping up and down. The man came out of his security office almost instantly. He couldn’t wait to tell me that she had never left her spot at the gate. She had been waiting there when he’d left for home the night before, and she was waiting at the gate when he showed up for work that morning, shortly before I got there. And she’d remained at the gate, waiting, even after he unlocked the security office door and went inside. She just sat at the gate, waiting. Waiting for me.
Now she really was mine. That morning, she jumped into my truck with me, and began her new life. And as we started the drive toward home, Clarabelle got herself close to me. She put her paws in my lap, and then her head. And for the second time since first meeting her, I heard her sigh.
Many days later, I tried to wrap my mind around what my dog had been through. What I knew about, and what I didn’t. As horrific as the known part of her history was, it was the speculation of what she had gone through in the years before she was thrown from the trunk of that car which rent my heart and blasted my mind. That part of Clarabelle’s past can never be known, and it should not ever be contemplated.
For My Dogs: Happy Times for Tony and Clarabelle
With their dreadful pasts many years behind them, my two dogs now focus on personal comfort, and on all the things that make them happy. They love their lives. They communicate with their hearts.
And they love me. This, they tell me all the time.
I want to wrap this up with three book recommendations. There have been so many incredible stories written about dogs over the years, both true and fictional, that it’s impossible to single out any one, or any group, as a personal favorite (or favorites). So the way I’ll lay these recs on you is by simply telling you that writing this piece about my dogs brought these particular stories to mind for me. For those of you who’ve read them, maybe you’ll want to dust off your copies and give them another read. For those of you who haven’t read them, you should.
From Baghdad, With Love: A Dog, a Marine, and the Love that Saved Them
Jay Kopelman, Melinda Roth, and Tom McCarthy
Dogs love with absolute purity, and their loyalty and devotion is matchless. It’s heartening when a human being reciprocates. In this incredible true story, a U.S. Marine puts it all on the line for a puppy he rescued while stationed in war-torn Iraq. An incredible testament to both dog and man. Beautiful.
Click the #advertisement link to learn more, or to order it here, directly from Amazon.
From Baghdad, With Love: A Dog, a Marine, and the Love that Saved Them, by Jay Kopelman, Melinda Roth, and Tom McCarthy (Paperback Edition)
Click here to learn more or to order
#advertisement
My Dog Skip
Willie Morris
In this iconic story, a boy and his dog grow up together in a small Mississippi town. The simple, heartfelt telling of their adventures together, and of the love between them, never ceases to leave me in tears. Boy, dog, and place. The rhythms of their story will match your heartbeat. Guaranteed.
Click the #advertisement link to learn more, or to order it here, directly from Amazon.
A Dog of Flanders
Maria Louise Ramé writing as Ouida
This classic tale is about a young boy and his old dog, and the unbreakable bond between them. The story takes place in the populous city of Antwerp, but the two are truly alone in the world. They have only each other, and the unshakable devotion that exists between them. This unforgettable story was first published in 1872, and its continued power and profundity is a testament to not only the brilliant writing, but to the elemental nature of the love between a boy and his dog. I never get tired of reading this classic, and it never fails to move me to tears. Achingly beautiful and touching.
Click the #advertisement link to learn more, or to order it here, directly from Amazon.
A Dog of Flanders, by Maria Louise Ramé Writing as Ouida (Paperback Edition)
Click here to learn more or to order
#advertisement
For those of you who stuck this out to the end, I thank you. And Tony and Clarabelle do, too. I’ve been dying to show you that there’s always been a lot more to my two dogs than what I occasionally leak out onto social media platforms. But I think you’ve probably known this all along. Anyone who’s ever been on the receiving end of a dog’s love and devotion knows that such a noble being can never be reduced to a photographic prop or a caricature. There’s simply too much there. Often, much more than mankind deserves.
Cheers, and Happy Gardening! (And I’m not going to add “Be kind to your dogs!” because I know, with absolute and total certainty, that you most definitely already are.)
John G. Stamos (2022)
The Renaissance Garden Guy is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Additionally, The Renaissance Garden Guy is a participant in the Bluehost, SeedsNow, and A2 Hosting affiliate programs. I earn a fee/commission each time a visitor clicks on an ad or banner on this site from one of these companies and makes a subsequent qualifying purchase.
Please click here to view The Renaissance Garden Guy Disclosure page.
Touched me deeply. Thank you, John.
Thank you so much for reading the piece, Susie, and for your lovely compliment. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. And, of course, I’m entirely grateful for your kindness and your interest. Thank you so very, very much.
What a wonderful story by a wonderful guy who saved two dogs in need.
Thank you for reading their stories, James, and thank you for the very kind compliment. My little Clarabelle passed away this August (we’re beyond heartbroken here at home), and Tony misses her terribly. But bringing these two pups into our family has been the most gratifying experience of our lives. Thanks again, James!
I also enjoyed your story about your beautiful babies you found you are an Angel for opening your heart to them. I know also what it’s like to have a little rescue my baby was behind a drug house in a cage having puppy’s every time she came into heat for 5 years never being let out of her cage beaten with fly shatters and newspapers not fed properly the police raided the drug house found 63 dogs puppy’s and took them to an ASPCA before the news sent cameramen down to cover the story and my husband saw her on tv and told that where all they would be at 6am on a Sat. morning. So we got down there to late all we’re gone. As we were standing around a lady drove and she had the one that was on tv she said she changed her mind I said could I have her and she gave me our baby Yorkie Keiki 5 we had her now 8 years. She didn’t know what grass was or snow she did bark for 1 year. I had to hand feed her she would stay in her charge all the time I would get her and hold her at different times and tell how we love her she was afraid of men I worked so hard with her but now she loves every one she happy loves her daddy and mommy and the best best blessing we could we ever had and she sleeps right between us.lol. Thank You for your beautiful letters John
Thank you so much for your kind words, Susie, and thank you for sharing Keiki’s beautiful story. You and your husband are truly angels. What an incredible, wonderful, and moving story. Bless you and your husband for what you’ve done, and bless little Keiki, too. She has truly found a Heaven on Earth with you. Thank you once again, Susie, and bless your heart!
My goodness John, what a beautiful, beautiful post. As I wipe my tears, I also acknowledged that I laughed at the humour you injected into a sad story of these beautiful dogs’ beginning, but I am grateful for and thrilled for the happy ending. What a beautiful soul you have to rescue these gorgeous creatures and give them such a good and comfortable life. It certainly would not have been easy getting them acclimated to comfort and to each other. And then dealing with all the medical issues.
I too am a huge dog lover and understand the work involved in rescue and settling in. I’ve always been partial to the bull breeds having had several boxers, bulldogs and a pit bull through my life.
Dogs are incredible creatures. Many humans barely understand this.
You my friend, will be deeply blessed.
Thank you for sharing this lovely post and Tony and Clarabelle’s story. I love their aliases too!
How incredibly kind of you, Alegria – thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed reading their stories. By reading your own wonderful work, I determined early on that you are a truly kind and profoundly perceptive individual. I’m not at all surprised that you are a dog and animal lover. I had a feeling that you’d appreciate my dogs’ stories. Thank you once again.
You are absolutely amazing, only a beautiful soul can write such a beautiful story ❤️🌹
I am so happy that I got the chance to read it🙏
Thank you so much for those incredibly kind words – and thank you for your interest in their stories. I’m so glad you enjoyed learning about them. There are so many other dogs, and animals in general, who desperately need human kindness. I’m hoping that my dogs’ stories might help make more people aware of the plight of neglected and abused animals. Again, I’m so glad you liked reading their stories, and I truly appreciate your kindness.
John, What a beautiful story. They sound adorable! Are you writing a book?
Thank you, Jana! I’m so glad you enjoyed reading about them. And thanks for your excellent question. I do think there’s a book there. I’ll definitely keep you posted! And thank you so much for subscribing to the site. I hope you’ll always find good stuff to read here. Thanks again!
I too have a “throwaway breed”. Mine was bareky 2 months old when a kindhearted couple saw him being thrown from a moving car. They already had two dogs so they couldnt keep him or they’d violate their lease. My adult daughter and my two small granddaughters had been at a local park when she spied the couple trying to rehome him. My daughtet said to me “Mom you need a puppy, dont you? And when I saw him of course I said yes!! He totally transformed from a black and tan pup into a gorgeous silver and black maned silky terrier (mix?). Ragnar is a clever, funny adorable guy who loves everyone and other dogs too. Ragnar very clearly says “I love you!” for a treat and the first time he spoke it to me I was so shocked I said “You do?” And he nodded his head and said back to me “I do!” Ragnar also creates songs via his squeaky toys. Its hiarious to listen to his varying “compositions”. He’s a chicken herder, squirell chaser, rat killer, puddle snob (wont drink from dirty puddles) good tracker (finds objects hidden) a squeaky toy virtuoso, tantrum thrower (goes searching for opportunistic snacks when humans leave), a doggie ladies man (they all swoon), super fast runner, sweet with little children, cozy little snuggler and best doggie kisser, ever!!
Loved the stories of your precious pups and how you gave them love and a good life. My sincerest condolences on the passing of Clarabelle
Thank you so much, Rexanne, for reading Tony and Clarabelle’s story, and for your very kind condolences regarding my little Clarabelle’s passing. I truly appreciate it. And of course, thank you for sharing the story of your Ragnar. Thank heavens he was rescued and that he found his way into your life. He sounds like a beautiful, wonderful boy. Please give him a pat and a hug from me, and please feel free to share his adventures any time you’d like. Thanks once again!
Thank you for sharing Tony’s and Clarbelle’s stories. They are both such beautiful and loving dogs! Their stories brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you so much for reading their stories, Carla. I’m glad their experiences touched your heart. The world needs more animal lovers like you. Thanks again!
John, I’m so glad you felt compelled to take in these lovely souls. What a heartwarming ending for each of them to be with you after such awful circumstances earlier in life. Bless you for giving them a home and bless them for maintaining some faith in humankind.
Thank you so much, Cathey, for your true kindness and caring. I’m so glad you read their stories. Your compassion for our canine companions is something the world could use much more of. Thanks again!
What little sweethearts! They are lucky to have you and you them!
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts and words, Colleen. And thank you for reading their stories. Your interest and your kindness are truly appreciated. Thanks again!
Tony and Clarabelle are two sweet souls. All the love you give them has been returned ten fold. Please keep telling us their story as you continue to write.
Thank you, Kevin, for your kind thoughts and words, and for your interest. Tony and Clarabelle are special little pups. I’m so glad you appreciate their stories.
What a wonderful story! It’s so sweet of you to save these dogs. They’re precious.
Thank you so much for giving their stories a read. I really appreciate your kind thoughts and interest, and I’m sure Tony and Clarabelle do, as well. Thanks again.
Sometimes I think dogs are too good for us, that we don’t deserve their unwavering love. But you, John, deserve every bit of it. Thank you for saving these beautiful souls and for giving them a wonderful life. I look forward to hearing more stories of Tony and Clarabelle.
Thank you so much, Jackie, for your incredibly kind words and thoughts, and for your compassion for Tony, Clarabelle, and all dogs. Your lovely comments and kindness are dearly appreciated.
Thank you for being the kind soul you are. They are beautiful!! I hate that their lives started badly at the hands of such evil people!! But now they are home where they are loved and given love back!! There is nothing like that love!! I had my first dog from my birth till he was 16 . His name was Tippy. His love for me and my siblings was tremendous!! I loved reading and learning their stories! Thank you for sharing them with all of us!!
Thank you for your very kind words and thoughts. As you know, there is literally nothing as powerful as the love our dogs have for us. I can imagine how much Tippy loved you and your siblings, and how much each of you loved him, and still do. Thank you for sharing this. From now, I’ll always think of Tippy, and keep him in my prayers, as I do with all of my dogs. Thank you, Sharon. Your kindness is dearly appreciated, now and always.
Heartwarming. I was propelled to continue reading
Thank you for reading their stories. I truly appreciate your interest and your kindness.
Love…thank you…
My dogs and I thank you for your kindness, Sharon. We’re very lucky to know you. Many thanks!
Thank you for sharing Tony and Clarabelle’s stories with us 😍😢
It’s my pleasure. They’re great little dogs who’ve had rough starts. I’m glad you were able to read about them. Thank you so much for your interest and kindness toward them. It’s truly appreciated.
You are their hero!
This is beautifully written and a wonderful story ❤️
Can’t wait to read your book…
I’m glad you think so. I surely do love them. Thank you!