Puppy Love

John Semley’s tear-jerker about giving up his rescue dog, Lilly, generated a big weepy fan base. Here, a few highlights…

“I wanted to express my praise and support of John Semley in his struggle with a rescue animal. I had a very similar experience that has haunted me. I’ve always taken pet ownership seriously, and I felt like a failure not being able to help a poor rescue dog be at peace in my home, even after thousands of dollars of training and medication. It takes a brave person to risk the wrath of dog lovers in his honest tale, and I applaud him for it.”

—Tara Wood, Toronto

“I’m already tearing up and I haven’t even started the body of the story yet; @torontolife you’ve missed a perfect marketing opportunity w/ Kleenex.”

—@lindsayjaykay, Twitter

“I had just returned from viewing the French movie Happy Ending, which did not really elevate one’s emotions, when I sat down to read ‘Pet Project.’ I was profoundly saddened that John Semley’s efforts did not bear fruit but also puzzled by a couple of things. It takes guts to take home from a U.S. prison anything that breathes. As John was throwing $10,000 at the problem, did any of the ‘experts’ he consulted suggest adopting a small happy Canadian dog as a companion for Lilly? Perhaps a pal was what she needed after her years in the slammer.”

—Edward Gabis, Toronto