Della

I am so excited to write and tell you about how great Della is doing! For everyone else out there in internet land, here is our story. My name is Chad, and my wife is Casey. She is a 1st grade teacher and I manage the warehouse at Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration. In the Spring of 2019, we adopted a Beagle/Australian Shepherd puppy from our local animal shelter and named her Bella. She is the sweetest little thing, and after housetraining, settling, etc., We quickly realized that she has too much love in her tiny heart to be by herself while we are at work. We decided that she needed a companion to keep her company, so we started searching in December of 2019. We always wanted a "Big Ol' Hound Dog", and Petfinder.com led us to Rose's Rescue where we found Della. Three-ish years old, Coonhound, housetrained, etc. PERFECT! We applied and were approved quickly after a few email exchanges with Rose and our reviewer. Let me tell you something... How nobody wanted this animal is a mystery that I will never understand. We maintain that she was always our dog... She was waiting and it took us too long to find her. We apologize to her for that often. "Big Dee" and "Little Bee" are inseparable. Little Bella just loves her big sister SO much, and Big Dee plays that role perfectly. Dee Dee has a powerful bark. The kind of bark that will drive a burglar away at the neighbor's house... And she tells Bella when she's had enough. But she is so gentle. She has never so much as made our pup yip or wimper. They play together, sleep together, lounge together. Everything but eat. Big Dee does not share food. Ever. Probably a byproduct of living with so many competitors previously. But it has never been a problem. Each pup gets her own bowl, and they don't mess with the other's. On a personal note, we are so happy as a family. Big Dee is a local celebrity. She gets pets at the grocery store, the gas station, dollar general... Treats at the bank... You name it. See, you have to understand something. Dee's favorite thing in the world (except for food, of course) are car rides. Bank, park, grocery store... If I'm putting on my shoes, Dee is ready to go. She loves to take walks with us and go hiking. She bounds through creeks and the mud, through the woods, and will stop and stand in a waterfall for fun apparently. True story. She gets a bath every two weeks, in addition to the occasional hosing off after hiking episodes. She has seen our vet and is in excellent health and she continues to have the best flea, tick, heartworm, etc. treatments available. Every couple of weeks I buy 3lbs of roast beef or chicken, slice it thin, and dehydrate it so they have doggie jerky that is 100% meat and NOTHING else for treats. She sleeps next to me... Or on top of me unless that becomes uncomfortable. She has a huge yard that she can go do her business, and it is cleaned up, mowed, etc. weekly. In short, she is living her best life, being the best her, and we just love all clumsy 75lbs of her! It feels like she has always been here. I've included a few pictures, although I was too preoccupied to get any of the waterfall adventure. A return trip is imminent though, and I'll be prepared next time! I know this was long, but I felt like I owed it to you. You certainly aren't doing this for yourselves... You're doing it for the animals. I can only assume that a happy story is the reward that you seek. Thanks to all involved with your organization from the bottom of our hearts. It's a wonderful thing that you do. It took a little over two hours to make the trip to pick up Dee. I'll make that trip any day of the week if there is ever anything I can do to help pay it forward. Much love from Chad, Casey, Big Dee, and Bella!