Big Dog of the Week
Big Dog of the Week
What is it?
BigDogOfTheWeek.com is where little pups come to be BIG and big dogs go to become EVEN BIGGER! By showing their cute faces on a digital billboard on Fall Creek just north of 38th street.
Two weeks a month, L.D. Smith Plumbing & Drains proudly features a chunky, drooly, couch-hogging legend adopted from a shelter by one of our customers. These gentle souls with happy tails, not only found a forever home – they will also be Central Indiana Icons!
In addition, with some assistance and insight from Indy Humane, we’ll throw an occasional spotlight on an adoptable Doggo from our own L.D. Smith “Big Dog” kennel.
We’re talking about dozens of “Love Sponges” a year.
If you are a current, or past, client of L.D. Smith Plumbing & Drains and want your “Bestie” to be featured, just complete the form below. We will be in touch and work through the submission and approval process with you before the board goes live.
Current Big Dog
Lucky
In May 2020, a smallish mama dog and 4 pups were dropped off at the city shelter by a family that didn’t know she was pregnant. After she delivered, the family abandoned the whole lot, and they were fostered by our friends and neighbors two houses down.
Because Summer 2020 was so depressing in a million ways, our joy came from watching those little pups get healthy and strong. We fell in love and decided to adopt one and name him Lucky. The rescue vet thought he’d grow to 35-45 pounds, based on mom’s size. He ended up at 80 pounds, but he’s down to a trim 73 with lots of exercise and some weight management dog food!
He’s been a surprise in many ways, but he’s our Lucky dog for sure. I love to tell his story.
Good Dogs
Previous Big Dogs of the Week
Vinnie
Gina agreed to foster him after he came to Animal Control as a stray at the end of April 2020. Vinnie was intact and had an infected eye. Gina originally agreed to foster him through his stray hold and recovery period—after his eye removal and neuter surgery—until he was adopted.
Based on the wear on his teeth, Vinnie was estimated to be around 8 years old at the time, so he’s about 13 now. Within just a few days, Gina knew she was his person and adopted him before his procedures were even done. Vinnie’s now a happy, healthy guy who loves riding in her Jeep and playing with other dogs.
All of us at L.D. Smith Plumbing and Drains are thrilled that Vinnie is our first “Big Dog of the Week!”
Carmichael
“I met my humans during a rescue adoption event held at a local pet store while they were waiting for my soon-to-be big brother, Gershwin (Great Pyrenees mix), to get his nails trimmed.
My oversized ears and freckles charmed them all, so I got to go home with them a couple weeks later! Even though I was just half of Gershwin’s size (since I’m a Beagle/terrier mix), they gave me a big name—Carmichael (after Indiana music great, Hoagy Carmichael).
I think it matches my goofball personality. I’m a tough guy with a big bark—unless I’m outside our fenced-in yard, although I surprised myself once by taking a scamper up the Monon Trail without permission (somebody left the gate open by mistake).
Waiting for doggie treats from the mailman every afternoon is my favorite thing, but I love ANY food, belly rubs, chasing the dogs I see on TV, and getting scratched behind the ears.”
Chuck
Chuck was found on a visit to the Dumb Friend’s League in Denver. An owner abandoned dog, he hadn’t been in the shelter longer than a week when he was adopted. He was immediately very friendly and a bit silly, asking for belly rubs and doing his signature push-my-face-in-your-lap. He was quickly adopted and met his new brother Robert.
While he was a bit troublesome at first, owing to his smarts and Husky-Shiba Inu heritage, he quickly became a very attentive and loyal friend. He loves fetch, spying on the world outside the fence, and is also a soccer superstar.
Olaf
Hi, I’m Olaf – your friendly neighborhood love sponge.
I may have had a rough start… I was found abandoned in rural Indiana farmland, scared and alone. Luckily, some kind humans rescued me, and after no less than four surgeries, I was finally healthy enough to dream of a forever home.
That’s when everything changed. My mom works in the veterinary field, and a friend asked if she could take in “just one more”. So, she and her kiddos came to meet me…
And the moment I saw “my girl”, I knew I was home.
She had just finished 1st grade with amazing grades, and I was her 1st dog and her prize for working so hard… but truthfully, she’s been my reward every day since.
Now, years later, I’m helping her pack for college. (I don’t love the boxes, but I’ll be cheering her on every step of the way!) I’m the leader of our pug pack at home, and everyone knows me as the “healing puppy” . I have a gift for snuggles, comfort, and unconditional love.
Whether it’s car rides, couch cuddles, or just following Mom around, I’m happiest when I’m with my people. I am certainly a lucky dog.
They saved me… but Mom says I saved them, too.
Myrtle
Myrtle’s journey began when she was found running with the homeless Doodgles of Hamilton County. Granted she’s less than hypoallergenic, but she’s got a blue and a brown eye and that’s better than anything dander free.
What started as a “hard streets story,” turned into pure luck for her new family. Myrtle has settled right in, trading the uncertainty of the streets for belly rubs, long walks, and a home that adores her. She’s proof that sometimes the best dogs aren’t the ones we’re searching for—they’re the ones who come looking for us, when we least expect it.
Lucky for Myrtle. Lucky for us.
Maddy & Saddie
The black Lab, her name is Maddy, and she is 10 years old. The Australian Shepard is Saddie, she is 3 years old.
Maddy was adopted from a farm down in Evansville. She was in a chicken coop. We had 2 to choose from when we picked her up. My daughter who was 4 at the time pick her right up and started to carry her around. About 5 minutes into her carrying Maddy around she dropped her. So we decided we should pick her over the other one.
Sadie came about from the same area down in Southern Indiana. How she came about was her mother was a working dog in the cow farm. She got to the point where she was too lazy to do anything. She would just go up to the farmer and stay by his side. He decided to bring her to the house and make her a home dog. She was bread and Sadie was born. Apparently Sadie has the same problem where she would rather stay next to her humans and not work. That’s how we got her.
Ruby Rose
Adopted from a kill shelter. We thought she was a Lab/ Pyrenees mix and was going to name her Large Marge! She was too sweet for that so we settled on Ruby Rose. She is a special needs girl because she is allergic to protein and most every food. She has the biggest heart and is the protector of our daughter! She just turned 8 and the best furry daughter!
Izzy, Archie, & Harley
Izzy is 11 years old and was adopted as a baby when her pregnant mom was surrendered to the Yorkie Rescue.
Archie is 3 years old, and is a Yorkie/Bichon. A backyard breeder was trying to get rid of him because he was a little skinny runt that they couldn’t sell. I convinced them to give him to me (I don’t buy dogs but will rescue them and give them a great home.
Harley is approx 1 1/2 years old and was found a last June at 4AM dumped by Holiday Park in the middle of the road. She was just a little 4lb puppy. I did her DNA and she is 13 different breeds from Chihuahua to German Shepard, Chow Chow & Norwegian Elk Hound – she now weighs 5lbs and is a little crazy wild child!
Stella
I found Stella dog through a rescue in Ohio.
By the time I got my application finished, they had already taken her down, but I saw her pop back up a couple weeks later after someone else had no showed their appointment.
I drove out to meet her and it was love at first sight. Well, for me… I had to win her over!
Big Dog of the Week