Mary was born on October 12,2015— a stunning Red Wheaten with a black mask, truly a sight to behold. From the moment she joined our family, her intelligence and gentle nature were evident. She was fully potty trained within a week and quickly learned an impressive set of tricks, including “saying hello”, by lifting her paw, rolling over, playing dead, and even covering her eyes on command. True to the Rhodesian Ridgeback, Mary is naturally quiet and rarely barks, yet she has just the right amount of energy to fit seamlessly into our lives. Whether we are hiking through Sweetwater Creek or curled up on the couch, Mary is always right by our side, happily engaged in whatever we’re doing. She has never been anything but a joy to our family.
From an early age, we prioritized socializing Mary, exposing her to different environments, people, and experiences. Wanting her to be comfortable around children, I began to bring her to school with us, where she was surrounded by eager little hands. My goal was for Mary to become out first therapy dog, and she took the role naturally. The children and families adore her, and her calm, loving demeanor brings comfort to everyone she meets. For a time, Mary also worked as a therapy dog in hospice care, where our son, Trinton, volunteered. Her ability to sense emotions and provide quiet companionship made her an invaluable presence in those moments, offering peace and comfort to those in need.
Although we had hoped for Mary to become a mother, she was unable to conceive after several breeding attempts. After much consideration, we decided not to try again. However, I always believed Mary was meant to raise a puppy of her own. With that in mind, we welcomed out second Ridgeback, a female named Mary’s Majestic Margot. Mary embraced motherhood in the most beautiful way, lovingly raising Margot as her own and proving once again what an extraordinary dog she is.
