Soon as we got inside the gate and into our grassy back yard, this dog literally--LITERALLY--laid himself at my feet.
(okay, he's actually ON my foot here )
Now that's some heartfelt gratitude.
Look at this picture and I dare you not to get choked up.
I didn't stage this. He just kept doing it.
I don't understand how anyone could dump or abandon such devoted animals.
Whenever I'd go out back to check on them, they'd come over, lie down near me, and go to sleep. But every once in a while, one or the other of them would heave a huge sigh. Huge.
And pardon my anthropomorphizing, but it sounded so deeply relieved and contented.
The female dog just keeps wriggling and trying to tackle me, while taking affectionate swipes at my hand with her tongue. I couldn't get her to hold still long enough for a good picture.