Toby came to me in NJ when I adopted him from Alabama in 2011. I was looking for a brown lab but soon realized so many were aswell. Then I read black labs were the most common euthanized dogs in the USA because they were least desirable. I was more than happy to request one. The foster family who cared for Toby and his 5 brothers and sisters had 2 puppies left. They were both beautiful and super black but one had just a little bit of white hair on the chest. I always felt that Toby knew he wasn’t special, not wanted enough, an orphan animal….but everyone who knows Toby saw a non-selfish, giving, loyal, and loving spirit.
Toby loved car rides and chewing up dog toys to get to the squeaky plastic thing inside. Myself, Toby and his sister Bella came to Portugal summer of 2021 to live the rest of their days with a loving family and new sister Izy. For Toby all was fine as long as he was with me. He was my shadow. The first thing I would see when I woke every morning and I am forever grateful for his companionship. We will always remember you and know you are still next to me in my shadow. RIP in doggy heaven.