FOR LIFE Best Friends

A tribute to joyful, loyal, beautiful creatures

It is just an animal ...

an inferior species prone to flea infestation, shoe destruction and squirrel abuse, right? Like other cases of true love, man’s connection to domesticated beast defies logic. Pet behavior — slap-happy romping, guttural purrs of pleasure and exuberant expressions of gratitude in the form of unbridled kisses — can inspire profound joy. Conclusively, their companionship can boost the quality of a human life. But no use trying to define how or why humans grow so attached to their fleabags. We would rather show you.

Good luck not falling in love.

Tina Littlest joy

KIMBERLY HILE SAYS HER DOG TINA was the one who rescued her when she visited the Humane Society one day. “I was a bit depressed and decided I needed a companion,” Hile says. Now her life is a joy — except when the two ladies ti over who is in charge of the house.

Quinn Best doggy paddle

AT 160 POUNDS, QUINN LOOKS like a bear beside his human mama, Peggy Walker. Actually, because of his stature and shaggy black and brown coat, he has been mistaken for a bear before, but Quinn is a Leonberger, and he wouldn’t hurt a fly.

With his massive frame, you’d think he would sink to the bottom of a pool like a ton of bricks, but Leonbergers are excellent swimmers because of their webbed feet that fan out in the water to propel them forward.

“These are water dogs,” Walker says. “Quinn loves the water, and he’s a good swimmer.”

Quinn even swims at the annual Swim Across America event at Lake Ray Hubbard to help raise funds for the Innovative Clinical Trials Center at Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center. Every year Quinn gets his paws wet for the cause and fundraises alongside the other competitors, including former Olympic competitors. This year he raised more than $7,000. Although he can’t actually swim in the race, he greets the swimmers when they return from the venture, and he makes a grand show of swimming close to shore.

When he’s not splashing around, Quinn can likely be found roaming the halls of Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, where he works as a therapy dog, nuzzling up to patients, bringing them joy and hope with his unconditional puppy love.