Say Cheese: Special Holiday Edition
November-December 2025
by Laura Emery, Staff Writer
courtesy Brianna and Kevin Hundley
A Tail of Healing
“Our fur child is a member of our family. Our first fur baby, Ajax, was a beautiful Tamaskan who took to being a big brother to his human sister like a duck to water. Before she could crawl or walk, she was fascinated by him and would track him around the house. When she could get to him, we would find them cuddled together with her either napping or reading a book on him. Our daughter would confuse her daycare teachers by talking about her ‘brother Ajax.’
“Ajax was also the defender of the household. My husband deployed often to the Middle East, and when he was gone, he knew we were safe because no one would make it past Ajax.
“When we lost Ajax unexpectedly in 2024, our family was heartbroken — particularly our daughter, who had never known life without her fur brother. In the months after he passed, our family was missing something. We knew we couldn’t replace Ajax, but it became clear that a new fur baby might help pull our daughter out of her sadness. We began looking at puppies.
“We found a beautiful silver lab puppy who happened to have been born on my daughter’s birthday. Bringing Silver Maple home brought laughter (and mess!) to our home. But, more importantly, she brought peace to our daughter. A few weeks after she joined our family, my husband went overseas. Maple took on the role of therapy dog for our daughter — giving her something to focus on while missing her father. She has helped us to heal by just being herself; she loves snuggles, is super goofy and enjoys long runs with boundless energy.
“The holidays are very important to our family. We have a lot of get-togethers to share in love and laughter. Our fur babies celebrate alongside us, as they bring an extra level of joy to an already joyous time. We couldn’t imagine our holidays without Maple.”
— BriannaRae Hundley, Albemarle County, Va., Rappahannock Electric Cooperative member
courtesy Jason and Megan Price
A Loyal Cat, A Loving Home
“Oliver joined our family about two years ago. His loving and playful spirit captured our hearts instantly. The holidays are an especially important time for our family. It’s a time for us to gather, reflect on what we’re grateful for and create cherished memories together. We have a large family, so Oliver always has plenty of love and playmates.
“As we decorate the house, we make sure to include Oliver in our holiday traditions. We give him his own tree full of ornaments made from each member in our family, as well as presents and a stocking full of treats. His excitement is contagious as he runs around the house in his festive pajamas, waiting for more toys to play with.
“What I love most about Oliver is his unwavering loyalty and affectionate nature. He’s always there to lend comfort during stressful moments, nuzzling up to us when we need it most. His intuition is remarkable — he seems to sense when someone is feeling down and will gently nudge their hand with his nose, encouraging them to play or simply sit with him.
“His impact on our holiday is immeasurable, and we truly couldn’t imagine navigating this special season without him. The holidays are about togetherness, laughter and creating lasting memories — and Oliver is at the center of it all, bringing us a sense of unity and joy that reminds us of the goodness in life.”
— Megan Price, Stanley, Va., Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative member
courtesy Doug and Lynn Peters
A Picture-Perfect Pup
“My husband, Doug, and I are both retired. Photography is a real passion of mine and I don’t think there’s a day that goes by that I’m not taking pictures. After both of our golden retrievers, Tucker and Skipper, passed away [in 2022 and 2023, both from pancreatic cancer], we were undecided about getting another dog. But we soon realized how empty our house felt and knew we needed another companion.
“We decided to adopt and put our name in with a couple of rescues. We received a call [from a rescue organization in Reinholds, Pa.] on a Friday night asking if we’d be interested in a golden doodle puppy. She was born in a puppy mill and had an inverted eyelid. They wanted to know if we could be there at 10 a.m. the next day. We did the four-hour drive the next morning. She was so little and trembling when we saw her — it was love at first sight.
“I think Tucker and Skipper were looking down on us and made sure that we got the perfect dog. She sits patiently for our photo sessions and doesn’t mind the outfits I put on her. Our Christmas involves taking a lot of photos of Clover — some we use for cards and some we share on her Facebook page (Tucker and Skipper Therapy Dogs and Clover, too).
“Having Clover helps keep us active and gives us a purpose. I recently had knee replacement surgery and Clover makes sure to help keep me active. The first few weeks after surgery she stayed right beside me and accompanied me on my walks. “We think she is the perfect dog and feel extremely fortunate that we found her.”
— Lynn Peters, Frederick County, Va., Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative member
courtesy Greg and Aleta Shelton
Corgi with a Cause for Celebration
“Grant came into our lives when he was 10 weeks old. Grant, a Pembroke Welsh corgi, was born with many vascular abnormalities that did not present until he was 18 months old. By that time, he was already in liver failure. He had surgery at 23 months old to correct the two worst vascular abnormalities (he has many more) and because his case is so rare, there was no track record for life expectancy. He has been medically managed his whole life. My husband, Greg, and I were hoping he would live to see his 5th birthday. On July 9, 2025, Grant celebrated his 13th birthday.
“Grant has many Christmas outfits and wears them to his classes and social engagements throughout the month of December. He has never met a stranger. His good looks and charm have made him a wonderful corgi ambassador for the Powhatan and Richmond areas. He brings smiles, joy and squeals of delight (‘Corgi!’) wherever he goes.
“We celebrate Christmas for the birth of Jesus, our Savior. We believe in the power of prayer, which, in large part, is why Grant has lived a normal corgi lifespan. He’s a walking miracle. To us, and to Grant, every day is Christmas and a cause to rejoice. Every day is a gift and we are so grateful.”
— Aleta Shelton, Powhatan, Va., Southside Electric Cooperative member
courtesy Roxane Morrison
Paws for Santa Claus
“Pearl is one of our granddogs. She’s our son’s dog that he got nine years ago. She is a pound puppy and they believe she is part shar-pei because of some black on her tongue.
“She is the sweetest girl. Our son taught her many tricks within the first few months of having her. In her younger years, they became well-known along his road because they would run together every day. Our son moved three hours away last year, so we don’t get to see her as often. Over the last year, she has developed what doctors believe to be Cushing’s disease. It has taken a bit to get that diagnosis, but after trying three different vets, we believe that this is the diagnosis.
“In this photo, we were dog-sitting her for several days, and she posed so beautifully with the Santa hat. She has always been a very photogenic dog. She shares her home with her younger but much bigger rottweiler brother, Salts.”
— Roxane Morrison, Clear Brook, Va., Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative member
courtesy Eddie and Kim Armsworthy
Decked-Out Doggie Duo
Blue Montegue and Ethel Mertz are important members of our family. We have lived in the Northern Neck area for over 25 years. They are both crazy about the holidays, as they love wrapping paper and lights, and they get to go on adventures to nursing homes, schools and hospitals as therapy dogs. Looking at the camera and sitting down while someone reads to them has become second nature to them.
“They both enjoy a full house, lots of lights and singing. Both will chime in during ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas.’ They have more clothes than Paris Hilton! My husband, Eddie, and I can’t get enough of them and are always looking for dog-friendly venues to take them to. Snuggling up by the fire or snowball fights — doesn’t matter; they love all things involving people.”
— Kim Armsworthy, Lottsburg, Va., Northern Neck Electric Cooperative member
courtesy Roger and Treva Campbell
Beagle Makes Spirits Bright
“Six years ago, I saw Miss Daisy’s photo on Facebook. I contacted Bedford Animal Shelter, and they set up a visit for us with her. She was a year old [when we adopted her].
“My husband, Roger, and I love her. Miss Daisy has filled our lives with love and companionship. My husband and I are both retired. She loves to be on our farm and as soon as she hears the tractor [engine] start up, she is ready to go. Our great-grandson, Kane, loves her too. He plays with her. Our son lives nearby and when he comes over, Miss Daisy walks him home. She stays with him awhile. Sometimes, she takes a nap on his couch.
“Miss Daisy is the highlight of our lives. We take her on trips. She loves going on vacation. She loves camping too. She also likes to take walks around the lake. Everyone wants to pet her wherever we go.
“Each evening, when it is her bedtime, she comes to me and I pet her on the head. Then, she gets up on the couch and stays there all night. At Christmastime, she watches me put up the Christmas tree and decorations. She has her own stocking hanging from the mantel. She knows Santa will be bringing her toys and treats. She loves stuffed animals — especially the ones that look like Santa or a snowman.”
— Treva Campbell, Eagle Rock, Va., Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative member