The first one continued: “People used to dump cats and dogs at our farm when I was a child. Dad always fed them. He always said they have hearts full of love and trust for whoever betrayed them today.”

I must also share what happened at our neighbors’ house one day years ago. George and June’s loyal pet, an English shepherd saved their then-toddler Larry’s life.

June heard frantic barking, then silence, then the barking again. She ran to see. Downhill from the house, at the lake’s edge, Larry was running back to the water’s edge as the dog barked so frantically. Then as Larry neared the water the dog would grab the boy’s clothes and drag him back from the water.

“I didn’t know I could run so fast,” June later said. Somehow a yard gate had been left open. As I remember a padlock was put on that gate.

Always remember that, with love and care, a new puppy can and will grow up to be that loyal friend and pal.

— Aunt Norie P.O. Box 265, Tonganoxie 66086; auntnorie@aol.com.