A baby deer, a pit bull, and 43 goldfish: The unexpected animals of one couple's love

When you think of romance, you might picture candlelit dinners or walks on the beach. For one couple, however, love looked a little different—it came with fur, feathers, and the occasional snapping turtle.

The list of animals this grandpa brought home to his wife, shared in a heartwarming viral post by Gallusrostromegalus, has captured the internet’s imagination. From a deaf pit bull named Annabell who doubled as a canvas for kids' doodles to a squirrel that grew up indoors and refused to move out. Each tale, or perhaps tail, is as charming as the last.

Over their 67-year marriage, this animal-loving duo built a legacy of love, not just for each other but for a menagerie of creatures, each with its own quirks and stories.

Love in every form—animal and otherwise

At the top of the lengthy list shared to Tumblr, is Annabell, the family’s solid white pit bull. Annabell might have been deaf, but that didn’t stop her from being a beloved part of the household. Her willingness to let grandma draw on her belly only added to her charm.

Representative Image: You see a cute pitty, but one family saw a willing canvas.GrandCelinien

Then there was Benny, a "genuine thoroughbred racehorse" and "spectacular athlete" who consistently ran races in reverse but found his true calling as a gentle trail companion.

"This should be a Disney movie."

— @botaniq_100

Amid the chaos of their ever-growing menagerie, one subtle and amusing trend stood out—Grandpa’s dogs often carried military ranks, which only escalated over the years. It started with “Captain,” a spirited cocker spaniel, followed by “Major,” whose silent green bean-eating skills were unmatched, and finally “Colonel,” another cocker spaniel who completed the progression. Whether intentional or not, the gradual promotion of their canine companions reflected the humor and affection that defined their lives together.

From there, the list of quirky companions only grew. A bald canary that sang exclusively at 4 a.m. joined the crew, as did a snapping turtle that shared a backyard tub with 43 goldfish rescued from the fair. Grandpa’s penchant for the unexpected extended to a giant toad, Mr. Grumpity, saved from factory workers’ target practice and later dubbed the guardian of Grandma’s rose garden.

Their household also included a red-tailed hawk that Grandpa nursed back to health and released, a series of cocker spaniels with names like “Captain” and “Major,” and a mysterious dog named “Spooky” who remained an enigma to the family.

Even in later years, Grandpa befriended a 12-point whitetail buck outside his nursing home window. The buck, Florence, visited Grandpa in the nursing home daily for corn and head scratches.

Representative Image: This icon of nature knew who to turn to for treats and for head scratches. Massimo Catarinella

Grandma’s equal love for the unconventional

Though Grandpa’s knack for rescuing animals was legendary, Grandma wasn’t one to shy away from the unusual either. Her pièce de résistance was the tarantula she brought home, cementing her role as the perfect partner in this animal-filled love story.

Representative Image: When you live in a virtual menagerie, why not through in a giant spider? Ceving

"Find you a man like this."

— @reneeowl

A love that leaves a lasting legacy

Their marriage ended only when their time on earth did, leaving behind a legacy not just of love for each other but of boundless compassion for animals. Their story, told so powerfully through a simple list, is a reminder that love isn’t just about the extraordinary moments—it’s also about the small, quirky joys that build a life worth remembering.

"The marriage I hope to have one day, but at this point probably won’t last as long."

— zoodr2b

Whether it was the deaf pit bull, the racehorse with a mind of his own, or the squirrel who refused to move out, each animal told a small part of a larger story—a story about building a life together, one furry or feathered friend at a time.