Dogs have often been described as man’s best friend. For 94-year-old Barbara Collins and her Newfoundland dog, Chewy, this phrase certainly rings true.
The pair’s relationship began through Mrs. Collins’s granddaughter, Amy Savino, who resides in North Carolina with her husband and children. Mrs. Savino is fortunate enough to live right next door to her parents—and her grandmother.
“[My grandma’s] just a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart, and family is really important to me,” Mrs. Savino, 37, told The Epoch Times. “So I wanted to be right next door. She’s loving. She’s motherly.”
Mrs. Savino described how Mrs. Collins has an incredible connection with animals, and her presence seems to draw them toward her.
“All the dogs love my grandma. And my grandma loves all the dogs,” Ms. Savino said. “She always has cookies in her pocket. She’s got just such a warm presence about her, and I think animals just pick up on it. They love her, they care for her, and they want whatever she’s got in her pockets.”
It should have been no surprise then when Mrs. Collins fell in love with her granddaughter’s dog Chewy, who just turned 2 in January.
‘They’re the Cutest Match’
When Mrs. Collins met Chewy, they immediately hit it off. Sitting on the couch, the great-grandmother held Chewy close as she got to know him.“It was like they were the cutest match,” Mrs. Savino said. “He was so gentle with her.”
Over the years, the pair has developed a special bond, and the Savino family sees Mrs. Collins once or twice every day.
“That’s like Chewy’s favorite part of the day, he looks for her,” Mrs. Savino said. “He waits outside our porch to go to her porch. I think the relationship is mutually beneficial. It brings joy to both of them.”
The two friends do a variety of activities together. Sometimes, Mrs. Collins cooks while Chewy plays at her feet. Other times, she does puzzles while he dozes on the floor. They even watch movies together.
However, there is one thing that Mrs. Collins can’t stand: Chewy’s drool.
When Chewy eats a lot of food, he begins drooling. He often shakes his body, causing the drool to fly everywhere. Mrs. Collins gets a bit pet-peeved by this habit, but she loves him, regardless.
Watch the video:
Chewy’s Personality
Mrs. Savino describes Chewy’s personality as “goofy” and “sweet.” The adorable Newfoundland enjoys jumping on people when he is excited—however, he has never jumped on his dear Mrs. Collins. Chewy has not been trained as a guide dog, but he can sense when Mrs. Collins needs something.“He knows,” said Mrs. Savino, adding that Chewy is “very calm” with her grandma since “he can sense vulnerability.”
Chewy likes to change his personality type depending on who he is interacting with. With Mrs. Savino’s children, for example, Chewy is “like a dinosaur—wild and crazy.”
“And with me, he’s spoiled and gets whatever he wants,” Mrs. Savino said.
Chewy has been trained on how to act around people. Although he is well-behaved, he is a very big dog. Mrs. Collins cannot hold his leash due to her age. Without being leashed, there’s always a chance that Chewy could run and chase after a squirrel.
Understanding this issue, Mrs. Collins decided to get a porch gate installed on her patio. That way, she could spend time with Chewy without any risk of him running outside. Mrs. Collins’s gate installation showed how much she valued their bond.
“It’s really cute,” Mrs. Savino said.
‘Love Can Come in All Shapes and Sizes’
Some of her videos have racked up many views online. The “uncommon love story” of an elderly woman and her huge dog has drawn numerous positive responses.For families looking to adopt a Newfoundland like Chewy, Mrs. Savino has candid advice: “They are a lot of work. They are very expensive. But they love great!”
Mrs. Collins loves learning what viewers think of her and Chewy. She especially enjoys reading the many comments remarking on her appearance; many say she looks younger than she is.
When asked about her grandma’s secret to looking so youthful, the doting granddaughter has a simple response: “Joy!”
Mrs. Savino hopes their story emphasizes the importance of the bond between animals and humans and how they can grow together and learn from one another.
“I guess love can come in all shapes and sizes,” she said.
