Hailee Graham and her husband adopted, Potate, Tate for short, from their local shelter after the puppy was found living on the streets as a stray.
Soon after Tate moved in with her new family, the next door neighbor also adopted a puppy, named Vernon. The tall backyard fence did nothing to stop Tate and Vernon from falling in puppy love. Hailee would often come outside and catch the two digging a tunnel to each other. “We couldn’t get them to stop. We couldn’t keep them apart. They would just keep digging holes to each other,” Hailee told The Dodo. Given the undeniable connection, the neighbors knew they had to do something. So they made a custom doggie door in the fence!
The family constructed a custom-built doggie-door in the fence, allowing Tate and Vernon to visit each other whenever they’d like. As you can imagine, since the doggie-door has been built, Tate and Vernon have been inseparable. “They love being together! I don’t know if they are actually in love, but I like to think so,” Hailee shared with The Dodo.
It might not be feasible for everyone to have a doggie-door connected with their neighbor, but Hailee hopes Tate and Vernon’s sweet story helps other dog lovers create a more welcoming environment in their yard. “I hope that it encourages people to be more friendly with their neighbors, and encourage a sense of community. It has worked out well for us so far,” Hailee told The Dodo.
Knowing that there are kind-hearted people that accommodate their dogs restores our faith in humanity. If Tate and Vernon’s guardians’ gesture of building a doggie door brings a smile to your face, share this article with the dog lovers in your life!
