Meet Hebe, the lap-loving miracle who transformed from a desperate roadside stray to the beloved heart of Katie Adger's home. In 2021, this affectionate soul was discovered by Katie's sister running after passing cars. She had been abandoned, neglected, and bearing all the signs of a hard life. Recently separated from her puppies, suffering from skin issues, testing heart-worm positive, and severely underweight, Hebe's future looked uncertain until Katie stepped in to foster her "temporarily", a plan that quickly dissolved when this special dog worked her magic. What began as a foster situation evolved into a forever home when Katie fell hopelessly in love with Hebe's irresistible personality. Today, this former stray has blossomed into a character-filled companion with unique passions, chief among them her talent for finding turtles in the yard and her signature move of flopping upside down to solicit belly rubs from anyone willing to oblige. Hebe's idea of paradise involves either zooming around the farm in the side-by-side ATV, feeling the wind in her fur, or claiming prime napping real estate in a warm sunbeam. Despite having three perfectly good dog beds of her own, her preferred sleeping arrangement is stretching out on Katie's queen-sized bed, and somehow manages to occupy the entire mattress while often resting her head on the pillow like a human would. Her social circle includes her morning and evening playmate Barley (her Labrador cousin), her cat roommate Alastor, and perhaps most unusually, Jesus the donkey, with whom she enjoys spirited games of chase. While fashion isn't her forte, she can be coaxed into wearing reindeer antlers at Christmas if treats, preferably a Kong stuffed with peanut butter, are involved. Hebe's toy preference reveals her playful spirit: she's most interested in whatever another dog has, making tug-of-war her favorite game. The word that captures her essence is simply "loving"-a trait demonstrated in every interaction, sometimes to the surprise of unsuspecting strangers, like the woman at Lowe's who screamed when Hebe unexpectedly licked her ankle, only to be completely charmed once she saw Hebe's sweet face. Her adventures with Katie continue to create memorable moments, particularly their hammock sessions that have more than once ended with both of them unceremoniously dumped onto the ground-a mishap that only strengthens the bond between this extraordinary rescue and the woman who gave her the second chance she so richly deserved.
Do you think Hebe should win the title of Best in Sheaux 2025? Cast your vote for Hebe now through Saturday, March 15th, 5:00 PM CST!