Our Best Friend Mats!
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
By: Amy Keetle

13 Years of Love and Still Going

We adopted Mats in January 2001. This spry guy was anywhere from 1-3 years old when we got him. Newly married and looking for a companion to compliment Bailey, our Irish Setter... we only came to the Humane Society to look at dogs that day. As we strolled through the kennels, we saw a Setter with the biggest puppy dog eyes ever. He had us at hello. After introducing Mats to Bailey, we adopted him. We remember his adoption day very well. While we were completing the last of his paperwork, Mats was so excited that he jumped on to the tall NHS counters from a stand still - like Tigger. At that point we weren't sure what we had just gotten ourselves into.

However, for the last 13 years, Mats has been a beloved family member who has watched his family expand to include 2 kids (now 8 & 10 years old) and a Gordon Setter, Carly. He has a smile that he reserves only for us, when we come home. He loves to help open presents and from Thanksgiving to Christmas, Mats will check his stocking everyday to see if Santa has finally left him that bone. He loves be outside with the kids... so much so that he has been known to follow them up into their backyard treehouse. Mats loves to play ball and lay in the sun. Yet most of all Mats loves to be with his family. He's just the sweetest boy and we can't imagine our lives without him. We estimate that Mats is now 15 years old. His body has gotten a little leaner, but he's all heart & he sure has captured our hearts. We often wonder who didn't want this guy (or how he came to be @ the Humane Society so many years ago) but we are so glad someone missed out on a great dog. We've had the pleasure of loving Mats for the last 13 years and we wouldn't have it any other way! Thank you NHS for rescuing and helping us find our best friend.