Name/Age: Marley, 5 1/2 y/o
Family Members: Mary &Greg, Daughters: Emma (21) Claire (17)
How long has Marley been with the family? 3 years
Professions: Mary teaches Science (Biology and AP Biology and sometimes Physics at Chamblee High School), Greg does bioinformatics at Emory. Emma is a rising senior at UGA majoring in biological engineering and interning this summer at Qgenda in Buckhead. Claire is a rising freshman at Georgia Tech majoring in biochemistry.
Location: Decatur, GA.
Nicknames: Marley, Mar, Marney, Biffy, Biffy-boo, Pibby, Puppy
5 words/phrases that best describe Marley?
Sweet
Loving
Goofy
Dramatic
Friendly (to people! She’s pretty terrified of other dogs).
What makes Marley unique? Marley came to us as the perfect dog (and we have managed to undo all of that). She walks on a leash great, always has. She was house trained, and is great with people. She used to never bark, she barks more now, I think we did that to her. She does not like it when we use tools/or other objects. For example, tape measurers. We can’t use one in her presence or she will bark at us non stop. I had a scooter for a broken ankle, she barked at it whenever it was in use. Hammers, rolling pins, you name it. It’s very odd.
The Girls!
Rescue Story: We had two dogs when our girls were little, both rescues. They were great, awesome dogs that both lived very long lives and left a huge hole in our family when they died about 2 years apart. We were dogless for a while – it was pretty traumatic when the first two died. Claire and I started volunteering at Lifeline walking dogs for a while and then we started dog sitting for friends and I think that finally kind of wore my husband down (he was the hold out). So in December of 2018 we decided the family Christmas present would be a rescue dog. January of 2019, Claire and I went to Lifeline (Chamblee location) and asked one of the volunteers to point us to a dog. We wanted a dog that was not too high energy, didn’t want a puppy and he brought us Marley; a dog that he really liked and had been walking for a few weeks. Claire and I fell in love, and sent pictures to Greg and Emma. We decided to adopt her then. Greg and Emma came back the next day to meet her just to make sure and that was that!
Marley’s ride to her forever home!
What is your favorite pastime as a family? We like to go for walks. Often just in the neighborhood but sometimes we go elsewhere. She gets carsick so that’s hard. We like to go to the pet food store. She likes to play fetch… sometimes. We all like to snuggle with her. She is usually curled up with someone in the house!
What is life like since you rescued Marley? Marley has it pretty good. During covid everyone was home all the time so she loved that. The girls and I have been back in school for a while, but Greg just recently went back to going into work so I think she probably misses having us around all the time. She spends her days sleeping, a couple of hours of walks/ball/snuggling and more sleeping. Not bad. For us, it’s kind of completed the family again. She fit right in and was literally the best dog from day 1. She is a little quirky (see the story about the tape measurer) but is super loving and happy. There is nothing like coming home to dog that is so happy to see you that her whole body is wiggling, or that gets the zoomies because she is so happy you are home.
Photographers Note: I have been doing this for awhile and always try my best to chose the best photos that illustrate the pups personality, the best lighting, the most in focus, etc. Sometimes I see a photo that may not be the best in composition but it tells the best story. Like the one I chose for Marley up above, where she is running with her two human sisters. I just loved the motion, the facial expressions on all three and how much fun everyone looked like they were having. True it may not win any photography awards but it sure does show the love between these three. As you will see below, Marley actually has the definition of the pittie smile. If that term was in the dictionary she would definitely be the picture beside it! Such a sweet happy girl, who seemed to have a great time zooming around and posing when asked!