Lucy and Max

Lucy, 16, is a pedigree mutt. She's from Brooklyn and has a Yankee bark. Lucy is black with a white chest and white toes — and beautiful ballerina legs in front.

Max,12, is a Chow mix. He has brown and black fur and a full black tongue.

How Ruth came across them
I was interning with Peter Kruty, a master printmaker, in Brooklyn. Peter and I would occasionally go to the no-kill dog shelter to take dogs for walks. We took Lucy one day and fell in love with her. She was extremely thin — she'd been owned by a drug addict who walked her day and night on the city streets.

The day I left Brooklyn, my car was packed to the roof. Peter said, "We should get Lucy to keep you company on your way back to Paducah."

Peter dove around the block three times while I tried to make up my mind. I think he would have driven around 10 times until I said yes — he wanted me to have her as his farewell gift to me!

Because the car was so full, Lucy sat on my lap for the two-and-a-half hours to Philadelphia where I took down some of my artwork and packed up my studio. There I rented a U-haul, and Lucy and I were on our way to Kentucky.

I got Max in 1996 when I lived on 5th Street, just before the Artist Relocation renovations. I lived in a wonderful apartment, but next door was a slum lord rental space. A family moved in and had this small little puppy on a very short chain.

Often there would be no food or water for the dog. He had no doghouse and would be left out in the rain. It would be blazing hot outside and Max would have no water. The lady upstairs and I would tend to the dog's needs most of the time.

There was a crazy teenager down the alley who shot at Max and me with a pellet gun one night — I had to call the police. Once a drunk across the alley came over into the yard at 3 a.m. and blew up balloons to throw at Max. Max was barking and scared. The little boy who owned Max teamed up with his friend and threw rocks at him — his own dog!

Finally, I had enough and asked the owner if I could have the dog. They said yes and I renamed him Maxmillion.

Do the dogs do anything unusual?
Lucy definitely has some bird dog in her. In her younger days, she would jump over tables, chase down squirrels and rabbits — I nicknamed her "Killer."

Max is such a gentleman. When we come in from our walks, he will run up the steps and open the door for Lucy and me. But like many men, Max snores.

Did their early mistreatment affect how they act today?
The biggest challenge with Lucy is her present condition. She is deaf and her back hips are failing. I sometimes have to help her get up the steps. On bad days she will fall backward, so I am always behind her ready to help.

She was slipping a lot on my wood floors so I got her some footies with traction. They have helped her tremendously. I have bought her a wheelchair that we will use on our longer walks when the weather gets better.

Max is a Chow, so he's very loyal to me and extremely protective. As long as I am with him, he is OK with other people coming into our home. Although Max is very obedient and I have received compliments on his "Good Chow Behavior," he is an Alpha dog and does not always play well with others on his own territory.

What do you love about them?
Lucy has the prettiest face and sweetest disposition. She has never been an alpha dog — she plays well with others. My cat is really mean to her. She will stalk and chase Lucy. The cat shows no mercy on Lucy despite Lucy's old age and condition.

And as manly as Max can be, he is a fearful dog. He is afraid of Walmart bags, heating floor grates and sewer drains. He is extremely fearful of thunderstorms. The only time he is allowed on the bed is during a thunderstorm. He will whimper until he wakes me and gets the OK to jump up beside me. Just a big scaredy-cat is he.

Best advice
My greatest wish is for owners to have their pets spayed or neutered. The world has too many abandoned animals. Get over the idea that it is fun to have a litter of pups — just visit a shelter to fully understand why.

Best dog training book
"Good Owners, Great Dogs," by Brian Kilcommons. Brian also specializes in aggression of all sorts.

Parting thoughts
I love the quote: "Lord, help me be the person my dogs believe I am." If only I was worthy of their unconditional love. Those wagging tails and happy faces every time I return home just melt my heart. I think my dogs help me to be a better person. My cat is a different story.

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