Layla: A Tar Heel Born and Bred

Layla

Hello friends, it's me again, and I'm back to tell another story of a dog I love. This pretty golden Tar Heel is my six-year-old "niece" Layla, and she's perfect... maybe a little extra slobbery and overly dramatic when you stop petting her, but she is truly extraordinary. If you've ever seen Layla, you know how happy this dog is to see you, no matter who you are. After being apart from her for a while, she'll fall down at my feet and cry, letting me know that it's been way too long. Talk about something that will make you feel loved.

Layla's story started in Chapel Hill, where she spent her time in a fraternity house, jumping between couches in a house full of girls on Cameron Ct., and most importantly, attempting to drink Blue Cups at He's Not Here. Everyone loved her and she loved everything about it. Layla has since moved on to a new city, but she wears her UNC collar, watches all of the games with her parents, and loves to put on her football jersey! She is without a doubt a Tar Heel born and bred.

As the puppy daughter to my sister Isabelle and brother-in-law Jim, I get to see this golden girl pretty often. She's a regular on our family beach trips (LOVES the ocean) and spends the night with us when we're all at home for the holidays. Crockett (our family dog) drives her a bit crazy with all of his extra puppy energy, but she holds her own as a true puppy at heart. She loves to play with Pink Piggy and this year's Christmas present- Orange Salamander. Dogs have a funny way of reminding you to keep nourishing the child in you, don't they?

Throughout her life, Layla has made a strong impression on many people. Very often she is complimented for her pretty red golden coat, but her personality stands out even more. "So human" is what comes to mind for me when trying to describe Layla. I could swear I've seen her burp and look around for people to laugh at it. She'll also let Isabelle hold her like a big baby and won't even squirm. It's the wildest thing. By saying that she's made an impression on people over the years is a bit of an understatement. After falling in love with the original, at least a couple of other people in our small town got a golden and even named the dogs Layla... that couldn't just be a coincidence, right? In the past couple of years, two of Jim's brothers have also gotten golden retrievers, not named Layla though haha. Dixie and Sophie are both very cute and sweet, just like their big grown up golden cousin.

To this sweet golden girl and a true Tar Heel dog of Chapel Hill, I can't imagine life without you. And to all of you reading, thank you for following along... Time to go hug your puppies.

Until next time,
Lily