"King Tut" loved by the George Ralph Miller family, Blue Mountain Beach

King Tut was rescued from the middle of Interstate 10 in April, 2008, where he had been cowering for possibly two weeks, and was literally skin and bones.  He survived bitter cold and thunderstorms, no food, water or shelter, and intently watched each passing car, hoping someone would stop for him. He is terrified of storms, strangers, and semi-trucks to this day.  George Ralph Milller will tell you that his wife Dawne, saw him  and  said " Turn around George Ralph", and that he doesn't argue when he hears that!!  Tut had been starved, abused, beaten, and had broken ribs when Dawne coaxed him, quivering, into their sedan where he shivered and hid behind their children, Courtney and Curtis.  His luck changed wnen he took a chance and got in that car....."Tut-Tut"  has doubled his weight from 22-44 pounds, loves his "brothers and sisters", Mike, Isabelle, Tizzy and Oink, and is thriviing in Blue Mountain beach, where he truly enjoys his pool and long walks on the beach...we can only hope the monsters that abused and abandoned this sweet baby are living half the life the "King" is living now!! :)


"Grayson" loved by Alice and David McClary, Santa Rosa Beach

Our story doesn't involve the unselfish act of adopting & saving a dog from extinction...nor protecting an animal from cruel streets...but it is a story of rescue.

After losing two beloved Rotties, we reached the decision to research other breeds.  I came across a website on Great Danes.  In my excitement I became very aware that these beautiful dogs were massive in size.  What if we got a dog like this, overpowering me, out of control, disobedient?   Would it be teachable, could I handle something so superior in size and weight than I am?  Could we really emulate the experience that we had prior...and more important could another dog own our hearts like those two?  Relentlessly I continued my research and oh my..the most beautiful puppy I had ever seen! The breeder was a twenty five year old, new breeder, displaying five puppies on his web page.   Puppy Number Three! 
 
Sold!  With tears in his eyes the breeder handed us the cutest puppy I have ever seen!  I knew then that he had been well loved the first eight weeks of his life.  We could not imagine all the questions we had had prior to acquiring him.  The fear of raising a dog so large was replaced by the amazement and penetrating love that we had for him..immediately!  THIS DOG HAD RESCUED OUR HEARTS!

Puppy Number Three became Grayson McClary NOW standing on two hind legs approximately at seven feet, 54 inches long and thirty six inches high on all fours.  Along with the greatness came a dog that never leaves our side, gentle to subservient, pre-occupied more with how to get affection than with food, and magnificently beautiful!!  Because of his beauty, we rarely walk or go anywhere with him that we don't meet people from all walks of life and have wonderful conversations be it about animals or human beings.   He has led us even closer to humanity than what we could have ever conceived!

Life is strange and it wasn't until a few months after we got Grayson did I realize that from a family of three girls I was Number Three.  My number two sister, Debbie, was confined to a wheelchair from Multiple Sclerosis and  Grayson mastered compassion with her as he grew quickly to match the height of her wheelchair greeting her always, nuzzling face to face and allowing her to love him gently while he stood guard over her.  My precious sister died last year at 57 from complications of her disease and I will always have the beautiful vision of our "gentle giant" loving her as  we did!
 
Puppy Number Three has aided my spirit and help to fill a broken heart with love. His innocence and beauty makes me catch my breath at times and his short time here will always serve as a reminder that God gives us gifts great and small and thankful we are, ours has been Great named "Grayson"! 


Lovingly,

Alice Sherman McClary  (Grayson's Mom)

"Belle Bottoms" loved by Anne Hunter

It was just three years ago when Red Belle Pepper landed, then bounded out of her kennel into the arms of Debbie Obert. The youngest daughter of Lil' Fanny,  from the prestigious Kennel Azzoro in the village of Des Moines, Red Belle Pepper was was born into from a lineage of golden retriever royalty.

Her early life was one of luxury, she was owned and educated by the reknown dog handler, Debbie Obert who prepared Red Belle Peppper for a life-long career as a royal show dog. One-year later, well versed in diplomatic protocal, royal etiqutte, and with impeccible grooming, she was ready for the stage. In no time Red Belle Pepper was a rising star, and the accolades and awards started stacking up.

Then, tragedy struck.  On May ??, 2008, during a routine exam, the doctor heard a murmur that would change Red Belle Pepper's course forever. Her show days were over. Rejected by her peers and once-adoring fans, Red Belle Pepper was no longer suited for royal show business. It was clear that she would soon be on the streets. Belle needed a new home and Debbie set out to find it.

Thats when Debbie met Anne Hunter from the village of Santa Rosa Beach. Anne offered Azzoro's  Red Belle Pepper hope for a new life of luxury on Scenic Highway 30A, it was the perfect fit.

Belle Bottoms originally found it difficult to cope with life off-stage. And, as a result, she became increasingly associated with numerous charities and ultimately changed her name to Belle Bottoms. Her new identity suits her. Nowadays, Belle Bottoms fills her days with a quirky sense of enegmatic love and wanderlust. Her show days arent over, she now mixes modeling and acting with her charity work. If you see her on the streets, there will be no doubt in your mind that she wants you and she totally loves you.


"Echo" Loved by Barbara Wheeler, LaGrange Bayou

Echo is a very special friend. Chosen at only 3 weeks old, he and I bonded at Sunday afternoon visitations at his parent’s home in Niceville.  Yes, he is an Emerald Coast dog through and through.  His full name is Echo de la Luna or Echo of the Moon.  Echo because he is the echo of a westie who is now in doggie heaven and de la Luna for the last name of the breeder, Luna.  He howls like a hound and has been known to howl at the moon.  He is inquisitive to a fault.  Getting in trouble early in his puppyhood, he was bitten by a pygmy rattler not once but twice the same day… guess he couldn’t figure out where the noise was coming from.  Having survived anti-venom and about a week at the Vets hasn’t slowed him down.  He loves to run with the big dogs in the neighborhood and the small ones too.  He goes to work on a regular basis and is paid in dog food, treats and runs on the dock with his BFF Coco, a miniature schnauzer.  He has never met a stranger and is particularly fond of children.  His soft brown eyes and eager tail wagging convince most people and critters we encounter to love him at first sight.
 
Echo shares our home with Marco the “bobtailed” cat, but Marco is another story.  Echo  worries when Marco hasn’t come in for the evening. He is the early warning system for Marco’s arrival home, barking and running for the door until I get there.  Marco being a cat always has to be coaxed in, but when he does walk through the door Echo greets him, checking him out for all the good kitty smells and licking him on the nose.  Echo and Marco are such good buddies that they often walk me around the block.  Echo on a leash and Marco the appropriate 10 to 20 cat paces ahead.  Our walks take us past our friends house and most morning Echo has to be coaxed with treats to continue the route.  He works/walks for treats.  He’s even been known to be invited in for breakfast with Coco and I’m left with an empty leash and the long walk home by myself.  Can you tell who rules???

Ava

“Hi, my name is Ava, and this is my story.
 
I’ve had two homes, with a little break in the middle at a shelter, CARA, here in Jackson, MS.  My first mistress was young, no kids when I arrived, and she taught me some neat tricks.  I can fetch, love to be chased and love to chase in turn.  I’m a furious digger, and a snake and lizard pursuer (relentless I might add).  I’m an active girl, and that’s where the problem started when my first mistress had two children in a row.  I was the odd girl out, so to CARA I went.
 
My new mistress was shopping at a local canine specialty store, “Diva Dog,” and the owner asked my new mistress about her Diva Dog.  My new mistress (I just call her Mom now), said that her Diva Dog, a black Scottie named Duchess, had died.  The lady at the store said that CARA had a black Scottie that needed a home.  My Mom and my Dad decided to check me out.
 
What a mess.  My coat was dusty, I had three warts on my head, and I was so fat that my Dad said I looked like a pig in a dog suit.  Still, they adopted me.  The warts were removed, my Mom put me on a diet (she’s good at that), and my step-sisters, a mutt and another Scottie (and neither of whom is wicked) took me in.  I still love to fetch, chase and be chased, and go after the snakes and lizards.  And, boy, can I dig.  And that diet I was telling you about?  Well, let’s just say I have another trick.  When I get hungry, I go in the pantry to see if there is any food on the lower shelves.  If I find a bag of whole wheat hamburger buns, they are mine, I’m tellin’ ya.  I like to take them out of the bag and bury them all over the house just in case this diet business gets too serious.  The buns have been found under tables, behind chests, and even under my Mom’s pillow on her bed.
 
My story has a happy ending.  Not only did I get two sisters, a new Mom and Dad, and a great house in Jackson, MS, I also ended up with a beach cottage in Watercolor.  I love to ride in the car, and I love my long walks when we get to Florida.  I will admit that I’m not too sure about that wet stuff that my Mom keeps raving about.  However, she also says that since I’ve lost all this weight, that if I decide I like the beach and the Gulf, she’ll buy me a bikini.
 
Chow for now.  See you on the boardwalk.
 
Ava”

Ava is loved by Bill, Leigh and Robbie Patterson