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catbyte

(34,170 posts)
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 04:17 PM Feb 2019

Guy Used To Make Fun Of Tiny Dogs -- Until He Met One

Now he's saved over 30 Chihuahuas — and his life's turned upside down 💕🐕

By Lily Feinn

The last thing anyone expected of Bobby Humphreys was for him to fall in love with a Chihuahua — a dog not much bigger than the size of his hand.

The competitive bodybuilder from Boonsboro, Maryland, who divides his time between the gym and laying specialty hardwood floors, was strictly a “Big Dog Guy.” He would even go so far as to ridicule friends who dared be seen walking their girlfriends’ small dogs.

But sometimes saviors come in unexpected packages.



Humphreys and his wife of 17 years had owned three Rottweilers over the course of their marriage. Humphreys loved the Rottweilers' regal, imposing look.

“All guys have egos and it’s a big dick measuring contest,” Humphreys told The Dodo. “Who can have the prettiest girl? Who can have the biggest house? Who can have the best car? Who can have the toughest-looking dog? We’re all insecure at heart.”

“I was just that ‘Big Dog Guy,’” Humphreys said. “I never even thought of a little dog.”



Then, on New Year’s Eve of 2016, heartbreak struck when Humphreys’ wife walked out. A week later, he injured his shoulder at the gym, necessitating reconstructive surgery.

Alone, without a partner or the use of his arm, Humphreys plunged into a deep depression.

snip

Slowly, Humphreys' arm began to heal and he started to work once more — but the depression lingered. It seemed there was no escaping the darkness until Humphreys received an unexpected request from a friend named Constance Rogers.

“She messages me one day saying, ‘Do you mind if Lady stays with you for a little while because I’m getting kicked out of my house and I’m not sure where I'm moving yet?’” Humphreys said.



Humphreys had heard enough about Lady, Rogers' tiny Chihuahua, that he wanted nothing to do with her.

“[Lady] had this terrible disposition that was very well-known,” Humphreys said. “I just steered clear of her when I saw her at functions with friends. I would just pay her no mind because I wasn’t into little dogs.”



But he owed his friend, who had helped him during his darkest days, so he agreed to watch the little dog. Then, one day, he came home from work to find Lady peering out of her kennel, strategically placed in front of the TV.

“After about 15 minutes I said, ‘Screw it, I don’t care if this dog bites me or not, she is not going to be sitting in a kennel,’” Humphreys said. “Connie came over to check on her an hour and a half later and when she walked in, she was totally amazed. Lady was in my lap, and we’ve been inseparable ever since.”



Over the next four months, Humphreys’ bond with Lady grew even deeper.

snip

Humphreys knew that one day soon Lady would return to her family, so he began to think about adopting his own dog — this time, a little one.

And that’s when he found Kira, a year-old Chihuahua with food aggression issues.



And then he found Harley, and her sister Quinn.

snip

Then he rescued Bella, whose nails were so overgrown they doubled back into her paws.

The more Chihuahuas he met, the more he realized they needed a safe place.

“I started to see a pattern,” Humphreys continued. “So many of these little beautiful babies are being abused or taken advantage of and I just couldn’t sit by and watch it happen.”



That’s when he founded Big Guy, Littles World Sanctuary.

“I’m a big guy, but I’m technically living in this little world, because no matter if there’s 37 [dogs] like there are now, or there’s two, my entire life revolves around them,” he said. “There’s just a heart inside these guys that’s truly amazing.”

snip



https://www.thedodo.com/close-to-home/guy-bodybuilder-saves-over-30-chihuahua-dogs





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Guy Used To Make Fun Of Tiny Dogs -- Until He Met One (Original Post) catbyte Feb 2019 OP
awww... Reminds me of one of my darling esposo's colleagues TygrBright Feb 2019 #1
What a great story! I used to dogsit a neighbor's chihuahua...sweetest little guy. lilactime Feb 2019 #2
I liked only big dogs, too until I had an encounter with a little, grey mop ProudLib72 Feb 2019 #3

TygrBright

(20,733 posts)
1. awww... Reminds me of one of my darling esposo's colleagues
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 04:29 PM
Feb 2019

John was a BIG guy: 6'7" and broad-shouldered, muscular-- former athlete, worked in corrections most of his career. A totally sweet human being but he could go from "easy-going" to "scary as hell intimidating" in no time flat.

We got to know him when he took over management of an addiction treatment facility for adjudicated youth that my esposo was consulting for.

There were some pretty rough "yoots" there, but they generally responded well to John, at least after the first stare-down contest.

Anyway, we were pretty devastated when he got a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, and we'd check in with him regularly, take him to dinner, deliver his favorite take-away, etc.

And whenever we saw him, his beloved Gidget (chihuahua) was ALWAYS attached to him. On his lap. In the crook of his elbow. Laying next to him on the truck seat with her head draped over his thigh.

Huge guy. Tiny dog. Totally inseparable.

Dog hearts are like TARDISes. They are way, way, WAY bigger than the outside of the dog would lead you to believe!

reminiscently,
Bright

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
3. I liked only big dogs, too until I had an encounter with a little, grey mop
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 05:26 PM
Feb 2019

I was at the dog park, talking to some people, when I felt something at my ankle. I looked down and there was a tiny, grey fluffball trying to get my attention. "She loves men," her owner told me. Every time I went to the dog park after that, I made sure to say hello to her. Silly dog. She had really bad breath, but that didn't stop her from trying to plant kisses.

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