Who just so happens to be MY dog, Charlotte, our pitbull/whatever mix. Charlotte was a street dog out in Nashville TN, for Lord knows how long, having to defend herself from other dogs/animals, traffic, starvation, raising puppies, the elements, and yet still came out fearless, strong, and remarkably loyal.

My husband, , found her while on his big hitch hiking adventure from AZ to NH last summer, in Nashville, TN. Or maybe she found him, not totally sure. He was hanging out in a house full of new friends he had just made, when Charlotte came walking on in through the open door and hopped up on the bed next to him as if she owned the place. She was emaciated, beaten up with wounds from obvious dog fights all over her body, a torn ear, and yet in remarkable spirits. She had no collar, and looked like she had just had a litter of puppies not long ago. They took her outside, and for 3 days she stayed right there at the house. Despite the freedom to leave, she stayed right there. Eventually he got really attached, and instead of subjecting her to the death sentence of the pound, he decided to take her with him.

Charlotte has lived with us in a tent out in the woods, in the back of a station wagon in the Walmart parking lot, in houses where several other dogs lived, has become the guardian of our cat, and has NEVER once complained. She's not in anyway aggressive, though has a true alpha female attitude, and while she tries her best to avoid confrontations (mostly out of respect for us), she isn't afraid to put other dogs in their place. And yet, when playing with tiny puppies, she'll lay down on the ground and roll over on her back to give them the upperhand.

BEST. DOG. EVAR. I couldn't have asked for a greater animal.