Sometimes the best of friendships form when you least expect them. No one knows this more than 95-year-old Sally Reenhorn.
Two years ago, the widow noticed a “surprise” visitor laying outside the sliding glass doors of her Mount Vernon, Washington, home. It was a St. Bernard puppy named Brody, who had wandered over from next door.
The two instantly hit it off.
Sally, who lived alone, couldn’t resist wanting to give the adorable pup a snack. But without any dog treats in the cupboard, she decided to try a yummy alternative.
She explained to KOMO News,
“I thought, well, maybe he wants some old bread. And he loved it! And to this day, you will not believe it, he will not take dog food from me! He only wants bread from me!”
It was just the beginning of their very beautiful friendship.
The lovable St. Bernard actually belongs to neighbors Dave and Edie Mazzarella, but that doesn’t mean they’re not happy to let the two “hang out.” After their first meeting, Sally and Brody quickly became close buddies.
He started visiting the elderly woman’s home every day, if not, multiple times a day!
They would do all kinds of activities together – from watching football, to spending time in the yard, to walking to church. Brody was really smitten with Sally, who has been an animal lover since she was a kid growing up on a farm in Holland.
She told TODAY:
“From the moment he sees me he’s so happy. Brody really loves me – Dave says it’s my voice.”
Brody naturally got bigger as time went on, and Sally aged as well. He was a gentle giant full of love and kisses for his doting neighbor.
Then one day, Sally wasn’t at the door when he went to visit. She had moved away.
As it turns out, Sally had experienced a minor heart attack. Fortunately, she was okay – but made the decision with her family that it was best she move to a senior living facility.
Brody was confused as to why his friend was no longer around. He’d still go bound over to Sally’s home each day, only to be left heartbroken by the results.
Dave told KOMO News:
“He didn’t know any different. He just went over there every day, but there were no more treats, so he would just stay there and sit there and fall asleep on the porch. So I’d have to call him back or drag him back.”
After several months of seeing how upset Brody was, Dave came up with a brilliant plan. The couple decided to take him to visit his friend Sally at her nursing home, which was only three miles away.
It was a beautiful reunion that both of them needed. And now, Brody is a regular visitor at the facility.
When Brody visits Sally, he receives the same kind of love and attention that he had been getting from her for two years. There are lots of snuggles, rubs, and kind words. It’s no wonder he missed his friend so dearly.
Sally may live further away, but it won’t keep them apart. It’s obvious they were destined to be best friends for life.
Seeing Brody and Sally together is simply heart-melting.
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