By LAURA BROOKHART / Community Columnist

Thanks to Two By Two owner Sonya Z. King, our modest town has a firmly rooted reputation for rescuing animals, particularly dogs, and providing them with food, foster care and even new homes, for the most fortunate.

King recently orchestrated a special adoption ceremony for an eight-week-old mixed-breed pup named Chili Mac.

By way of intertwining connections, psychologist and author Helen Sherry learned about Chili Mac and “fell in love.” She and husband, Colin Quenelle, flew from San Luis Obispo, Calif., over the past weekend to meet their new pup, who they renamed Tané.

Colin Quenelle, originally from New Zealand, shared that he grew up hearing stories about Maori mythology and said that Tané is the Maori goddess of the forest and birds.

All seems appropriate, too, as Helen Sherry herself created Living Dream Gardens (a living vision board). Sherry synergistically blends Native American wisdom and medicine animals, deity figurines from many religious traditions, sacred crystals and life-giving succulents to create personalized works of art that help people rapidly manifest their dreams.

Sherry is author of the book “Always and Forever, Angels Ladybugs,” which is a book to help children heal, especially those who have lost a mommy or daddy in war.

At the Southern-themed welcoming, Helena Belles Abbey Manasco and Allison Watson greeted the guests alongside Joey and Veronica Kennedy, representing Animal Advocates of Alabama.

Also attending was Lazarus (who appeared on national television on “The Doctors”) and his owner Jane Holston, and Jennifer and Tanner Newhouse, who fostered Chili Mac up until his adoption.

A laughing King told her guests, “I told you to wear your hoop skirt,” and then presented them with a basket of Southern goodies – among them Milo’s tea, fig preserves and “Best of the Best Alabama” cookbook.

Tané met his new parents one by one, providing happy licks to both.

Then Sherry and King spent a few quieter minutes together with Tané before the group adjourned to Papa Saia’s for lunch.

The new parents chose to drive back to California, as to not traumatize Tané with an airline flight. No doubt the time of that transition will ensure joyous bonding along the way.