ST. MARYS, Ga. – In this week’s SnapJAX stories, a picture of a pack of some very well-behaved golden retrievers got my attention. So I traveled to St. Marys, Georgia, to find the story behind the picture.
We were greeted by four very excitable golden retrievers. They weren’t as focused as they were in this picture, but they were the center of attention by any means necessary.
“They just love visitors. So they have to get all the attention,” said Vicki Aripez.
Once upon a time, it was also these dogs that helped Vicki and Paul Aripez know they were a perfect match after they met on Match.com.
“I mean, from the first day, it was just like we had so much in common. I lost my wife in 2010 and Vicki lost her husband. And we met about five or six years later, and I was with my golden retrievers. I found the most wonderful woman in the world,” said Paul Aripez.
“He had Sadie and Rascal and when I met up I loved dogs. I actually grew up with a cocker spaniel. So I fell in love with him,” said Vicki.
Their family has grown because not only do they both have hearts for dogs, but they also have hearts for rescues -- and that’s how they added Jazzy to the bunch.
“It started out with three actually and then we got involved with G.R.E.A.T. Rescue in Jacksonville,” said Paul.
Jazzy was a rescue dog who came in with eight puppies, and she was in bad shape.
“We nursed her back to health. Yeah, found homes for the puppies and she just won our hearts,” said Paul.
Back to the picture where the dogs calmly stand at attention for something. I found out it’s oatmeal. As part of their morning routine, Vicki feeds the dogs spoonfuls of oatmeal. They wait their turn patiently and enjoy a warm breakfast together.
We also couldn’t help but notice the elaborate garden in the backyard as well. It’s also grown with love since the couple met.
“He had a little garden when I met him and as we started growing, we actually didn’t know what to do with all the food,” said Vicki.
They now donate the extra vegetables to a nonprofit called Helping Hands at St. Marys Methodist Church. They are a couple made in doggy heaven with a healthy serving of veggies on the side.
Who would have thought that a doggy picture would have led me to a love story? A couple who loves their animals and loves their community and is growing generosity right in their own backyard.