Ree Drummond's ranch-ful of dogs figure prominently in her Instagram posts: supervising the workers, loping across the fields, or noisily drinking at the creek. "I guess my bassets can do no wrong in my eyes (except their breath, I guess)," Drummond once wrote. Senior dog Walter's "sweet, kind, gentle" nature — not to mention his deliciously scratchable long ears — made him a favorite of visitors to The Mercantile, Drummond's signature restaurant and general store. Walter could also be frequently seen saying hi at the Lodge on Drummond Ranch. If anyone doubts that dogs can show love, they have only to see Drummond's videos of Walter offering sloppy kisses, cuddling with the Drummonds' daughter Paige, and rolling over for a belly rub. (When pooches show that vulnerable area of their bodies, that's a sure sign they trust the person they're with.)
The doggie diplomat was only slightly less famous than his buddy Charlie, who inspired Drummond's best-selling children's book series, "Charlie the Ranch Dog." Sadly, Charlie crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2017. A heartbroken Drummond wrote on her blog, "He lived a full life out here with the cows and the rabbits, and I'm so grateful he was ours." She admitted to feeling odd about mourning a pet when there were much greater tragedies in the world, "but anyone who's ever loved a dog understands that it's a special kind of loss."
Run free, Walter, and thank you for brightening so many lives.
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