(via ephemeron)
Those eyes remind me of my now-passed-away dog Gabby. She was a black lab that my family bought when she retired from her career as a show dog. Her show name was “Gabriela Harbortop at Wapato,” and the pictures of her from that stage in her life were regal and glorious.
Soon after she joined our family, Gabby developed diabetes, a serious skin condition that caused her rear end to be completely bald, and epileptic seizures. She was also very obese (we tried really hard to keep her weight down but couldn’t) and had really greasy fur, giving her the look of a pregnant seal.
Gabs’ digestive system is also noteworthy: She once ate a baby shoe and pooped it out whole. You’d find dog turds in our yard that had still-readable newspapers in them.
Gabby was also the sweetest dog I’ve ever known. She loved to be with people and cuddle, and watching her play with other dogs, vigorously waddling in an attempt to keep up with the more athletic pets, was heartwarming and tragic at the same time. The former show dog’s eyes said more than a kennel’s worth of barks could ever express. Gabby’s eyes told you that she was embarassed by her physical condition, but that she loved you, and wanted more than anything for you to love her too.
Don’t know why this picture elicited such an emotional response but it did! LOVE YOU GABBY!
