Sweet Rusty was nursed back to health by his foster family after gallbladder surgery while in rescue. Once healthy and strong, he found the perfect forever retirement home with a lovely lady who was committed to maintaining his slim and trim figure through daily walks. As he grew more confident, his presence became bigger and bigger, checking the back door for intruders and guests, investigating who was eating what and whether it was shareable, monitoring all food-related doings in the kitchen whether the activity was putting away groceries, preparing meals, doing dishes, washing the floor, investigating the contents of cupboards and drawers, checking Nani's dish to make sure she ate every crumb, barking loudly and enthusiastically at any provocation (which Nani loved to provide) or for no reason whatsoever. I grew used to the feel of him leaning against my legs as I sat reading a book, or lying on my foot when I was on the computer, and butting his head against the back of my knees whenever I worked at the kitchen counter. He had a vendetta against the pesky crows. They'd perch in the top branches and dive from perch to perch, directing their raucous caws at him, taunting and teasing. He'd shake his head and bark and bark and try to jump up and snag them in midair. Callers will miss his boisterous bark when he helped me answer the phone. Everyone got an eager welcome from The Bud. He played host to each arrival - first with a barky greeting, then a sit-down-and-lean-in for an ear skritch and shoulder massage. If the visitor proved qualified, he'd flop down and go belly up. Russ was very very present, always. Rusty gained his angel wings on March 26th, 2020. I miss my furry boy something fierce! Nani slept in his bed last night.