Allie — short for Allagash — was a big, goofy Rottweiler girl with a soft heart, a silly streak, and a deep devotion to Deb. She came home as a two-year-old “teenager,” full grown at 91 pounds, after her first family realized they could no longer safely manage such a large young dog with small children. From there, Allie became Deb’s steady companion through many chapters: a summer at Boy Scout camp, moves to Massachusetts, Virginia, and Maryland, long walks in the woods, boat rides she tolerated with concern, and beach days where she preferred to stay safely on shore while keeping a worried eye on Deb in the water. For all her size and strength, Allie was tender, cautious, and wonderfully quirky. A broom leaning near a doorway could stop her in her tracks. Strange noises made her nervous. But she was also deeply bonded, beautifully trustworthy, and full of song — especially when the right country song came on. Allie taught Deb that loving an animal means listening closely to who they are, not forcing them to become who we expected them to be. Allie’s stories are coming soon.