Scottie & Gary: A Rescue Story That Healed Two Hearts

In June 2023, 70-year-old Gary Lawrence reached out to Big Dog Ranch Rescue after experiencing a heartbreaking loss—his wife of 30 years had passed away just a month earlier. His once lively home had grown painfully quiet, and he was searching for companionship—not in the form of a young, energetic puppy, but a more mature, settled dog who could bring warmth and comfort back into his life.

Gary contacted several shelters, sharing his story and his hope of finding a canine companion to help him heal. Big Dog Ranch Rescue knew just the match.

Around the same time, a dog named Scottie had arrived from Alabama. Her owner had also passed away, and she too was in need of a fresh start and a second chance. It felt like fate was at work.

At first, the bond between Gary and Scottie wasn’t instant. Gary later admitted

that he thought she was “just okay.” But over the months that followed, they spent more and more time together—and a deep, lasting connection quietly began to grow.

Nearly two years later, Gary and Scottie are inseparable. Scottie has brought love, laughter, and light back into his life. With her sweet manners, warm personality, and playful spirit, she’s become, in Gary’s words, “simply the best.”He often says he couldn’t have made it through the last two years without her. We are so grateful that Scottie found her perfect match in Gary, and we’re proud to have played a small role in their beautiful journey.

Sometimes, the best kind of love is the one that quietly grows until you can’t imagine life without it.