Several years ago, clay artist Barry Gregg’s wonderful dog Parker was diagnosed with bone cancer, and she had to have her leg amputated. “Parker embraced her new life almost immediately,” Gregg says. She was an inspiration, which he celebrates in this art. (When Gregg shared his video tribute with us, he explained that after Parker’s surgery a friend gave him a copy of Bark, featuring three-legged dogs (Jul/Aug 2006), which he said was a “a great help in my healing process.”) We’re paying it forward. Perhaps the Decatur, Ga., artist’s tribute will be a source of support for others. >> Watch the video.

The stage: A small wooden deck with sturdy balusters, overlooking a vegetable garden in late season.

Enter Gigi. The six-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel saunters across the deck, untroubled. It’s hard to tell by looking at her, but Gigi is a former rescue dog, and a traveled one, too: She’s lived in Singapore and Manhattan and (for the past two years) this Boston suburb.

Gigi takes all that in stride, though. If her past has taught her anything, it’s to relish what’s really important. Her portly figure implies a dog who has that much straight. Suddenly, Gigi notices something that piques her stomach.

This is Bijou, a young Catahoula Leopard/Shar Pei mix who’s on the lookout for a forever home. She’s a busy girl who plays well with others and by herself, and she loves training—and has already had quite a lot of it, thanks to the SOS-PenPals program and Teresa, her handler/trainer. Get the low-down on this charming dog, see more photos and fill out the adoption form here.