This week’s Thing I am Loving RIGHT now (on Valentine’s Day of all days) is this picture I snapped yesterday.

My husband is not a big dog person, but he has the biggest heart.

We have a human child (who is now an adult person) two cats and two dogs. They all have middle names so they know when they are in trouble. This little guy is “Dobby Elliot Gerard Odom Baloo Squiddy Magillicutty aka Tim” if that gives you any indication of how bad he can be.

I am the one who brought him home from the pound against my husband’s wishes. And this dog loves me.

I am also the one who gets exasperated when he barks at strangers on our morning walks, or at the mailman, or cars driving by the house.

I am the one who says all of his middle names in a raised pitch when he “forgets” to go outside to potty, or whines at the dinner table, or throws up in the car.

My husband is the one who reminds me (even though it has been years) about his rough start. About how small he was (3 pounds) and how young he was (8 weeks) and how big and scary and traumatic the animal shelter must have been for such a small soul.

My husband is not a big dog person, but he has the biggest heart.

He was MAD when I brought the puppy home. Things were tense for weeks. I came home one day from work and Dobby was wearing a sweater, which he had not been wearing when I left that morning. When questioned my husband informed me he had dressed the dog because it was getting cold and he was shaking.

My husband is not a big dog person but he has the biggest heart.

He holds an umbrella over the dog in the backyard when it is raining. He follows him around the yard keeping him dry while he checks the perimeter and finds the perfect place to pee. On sunny days he throws the tennis ball and points out squirrels and Googles things like “Can dogs get sunburned?”

My husband is not a big dog person but he has the biggest heart.

He sees the “person” inside of the dog; the grumpy, growly, persnickety old man who lives inside this tiny dog body. He breaks the dog treats in half to make it easier for him to eat and measures his medication (when needed) because “close enough” is not OK and sits on the floor next to the kennel in the mornings reassuring him as he howls and whines and I scramble to get my shoes on and take him for his walk.

My husband is not a big dog person but he has the biggest heart.

He taught him to “share the chair” and is proud at how smart he can be and howls “Dobby Dooby Do” and laughs when the dog joins in.

My husband is not a big dog person but he has the biggest heart.