The Villages - September 2017 - 28

{ For The

Love

oF peTs }

A Woman's Best Friend
Barbara Matson and her miniature schnauzer, Shandy,
have an undeniable bond.
When Matson moved into her first home here in the
Village of Pennecamp eight years ago, her mother was
diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and later lost her ability
to communicate.
Matson grew lonely and longed to have a companion
again.
She searched online for a dog and found a litter in
Dunnellon, and before she knew it she was on her way to
pick out her future furry friend.
When she arrived at the house, she immediately knew
which dog was meant for her.
"He was the biggest dog in the litter and he just jumped
out of the swimming pool at us and I was like, 'That's my
dog'," the Village of Hadley resident said. "I was lucky to get
him and he was lucky to get me."
Shandy has been Matson's best friend ever since her
mother passed and he has shown her love and support.
Whenever Matson is upset, Shandy cuddles her - a
sure remedy for her sadness.
"He's a great communicator," she said. "When I'm sad,
he knows it. He will make a good point of staying really
close to me and snuggling with me
- he's right there with me."

28

SEPTEMBER 2017

Matson immediately trained Shandy to do fun tricks,
like shutting doors by himself, which have made him wellknown in The Villages.
When Matson moved from the Village of Dunedin to
the Village of Hadley a few months ago, she and Shandy
were sitting on the porch when a UPS worker dropped off a
package.



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Villages - September 2017

Contents
The Villages - September 2017 - Cover1
The Villages - September 2017 - Contents
The Villages - September 2017 - 1
The Villages - September 2017 - 2
The Villages - September 2017 - 3
The Villages - September 2017 - 4
The Villages - September 2017 - 5
The Villages - September 2017 - 6
The Villages - September 2017 - 7
The Villages - September 2017 - 8
The Villages - September 2017 - 9
The Villages - September 2017 - 10
The Villages - September 2017 - 11
The Villages - September 2017 - 12
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The Villages - September 2017 - 14
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The Villages - September 2017 - 16
The Villages - September 2017 - 17
The Villages - September 2017 - 18
The Villages - September 2017 - 19
The Villages - September 2017 - 20
The Villages - September 2017 - 21
The Villages - September 2017 - 22
The Villages - September 2017 - 23
The Villages - September 2017 - 24
The Villages - September 2017 - 25
The Villages - September 2017 - 26
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The Villages - September 2017 - 28
The Villages - September 2017 - 29
The Villages - September 2017 - 30
The Villages - September 2017 - 31
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The Villages - September 2017 - 33
The Villages - September 2017 - 34
The Villages - September 2017 - 35
The Villages - September 2017 - 36
The Villages - September 2017 - 37
The Villages - September 2017 - 38
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The Villages - September 2017 - 40
The Villages - September 2017 - 41
The Villages - September 2017 - 42
The Villages - September 2017 - 43
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The Villages - September 2017 - 54
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The Villages - September 2017 - Cover3
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