HOW A HOMELESS SHIH TZU FOUND LOVE, LAPS, AND A COMMUNITY ONE SCRUFFY PUP, 75 NEW BEST FRIENDS
Chewy’s comeback story might just melt hearts better than any “Rocky” movie. This scruffy, matted little Shih Tzu was wandering the streets of Austin, Texas, one day, then commandeering hearts the next. When a staff member from The Philomena, an assisted-living center, spotted the tangled-up furball, she did what any sensible dog lover would do: She scooped him up and took him straight to the vet. The microchip told a clear story, including his name and past home, but the humans at the other end of that story refused the next chapter. They blocked calls. They had moved on. Chewy did not.
has an appointment to impress. Residents who once shuffled by with downcast eyes now light up all because of the miniature ray of sunshine. He has a special gift for the memory care wing. Words, which sometimes hide from those living with dementia, seem to rise back to the surface when Chewy pads into the room. A hand that had been still will lift to stroke his head. A face that had been blank will crease into a smile. “I’ve not seen him pass anybody who does not grin ear to ear by seeing this little dog,” Priscilla told CBS Austin.
Priscilla Duran, who runs The Philomena, blinked and then said the simple, brilliant thing you wish everyone would when a friendly animal shows up: “What if he’s our dog?” That question changed everything. Chewy, calm as can be, fit into the assisted-living center like the missing puzzle piece no one knew they were missing. Now he patrols the hallways like a tiny, four-legged ambassador. He shimmies into the front office to greet visitors, takes VIP laps during Scrabble night, and has perfected the art of the walker joyride. Some days, he is decked out in a dapper suit, suave sunglasses, or tiny sweater, looking like he
Chewy is a fluffy lesson in second chances. The residents of The Philomena understand that fresh starts in a brand-new
environment can be rough, and they welcomed Chewy as one of their own. He is more than a companion; he is a tiny (unlicensed) therapist, a lap-warmer, a Scrabble coach, a walker buddy, and the living proof that love often arrives in furry, unexpected packages. As Priscilla puts it best, “Dogs are just proof that actions speak louder than words.” Chewy’s actions speak volumes: comfort, joy, and an endless supply of tail-wagging goodwill.
SUDOKU
EATS WITH ELLIE
CRISPY PROSCIUTTO AND CHEESE SLIDERS
INGREDIENTS •
3 oz thinly sliced prosciutto
• • • • •
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• • • • •
1 package dinner rolls, halved lengthwise
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1/4 cup fig preserves
3/4 cup shredded fontina cheese 3/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese
2 chopped garlic cloves Black pepper, to taste
1/2 cup melted butter
DIRECTIONS 1.
Preheat oven to 400 F. 2. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, arrange prosciutto and bake for 8–10 minutes. 3. On a separate lined baking sheet, place the bottom halves of the rolls and spread fig preserves over them. 4. Layer with fontina and Swiss cheese. Top with crispy prosciutto. 5. Place the top half of the rolls over the prosciutto and gently press down. 6. In a bowl, mix butter, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, garlic, and black pepper. 7. Pour butter mixture over rolls. Cover with foil and bake 10 minutes. 8. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes, and separate before serving.
3 614-334-4649 Inspired by HalfBakedHarvest.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator