Dudlee was five when he was rescued by Loralee Nesbitt-Papp, a dog-lover in Calgary, Alberta.

Dudlee's utter labness more than made up for the selective hearing he brought with him. Humans in the dog park learned not to worry about the famous Dudlee greeting: an enthusiastic tongue-flapping gallop, and full stop just before impact.

Loralee began fostering Misty Creek Dog Rescue puppies when Dudlee was a senior. He didn't care for puppies by that time, but he put up with them like the true gentledog he was.

He did like the cat, though (see the Cheetoh story for more about the cat who thought he was a dog).

Dudlee died in February 2010, just before his 13th birthday. I never met him, but something about Loralee's farewell pictures made me want to draw him.

Loralee says she wishes Dudlee were still here - not just once in a while, but every day. And when you look at that smile, you can see why. It's a smile that fills up a family.