10/16/2026
There's a special place at PAWS Atlanta that goes by many names. 🏠️ Some call it Betty and Barbara's House. Some call it Ebbie's House. And, most recently, it's occasionally known as Hot Chocolate's House.
Betty and Barbara first arrived at PAWS Atlanta in 2005. While they were initially housed in individual kennels, as our dogs always are, it became obvious over time that they needed to be together. They spent several hours each day in an off-leash area together, but it never seemed like enough. It's not often we see a pair of dogs bonded as deeply as these two, and we wanted to figure out a solution for them.
In 2011, Betty and Barbara's house was born, complete with a sign hand-carved by a staff member. This tiny house is heated and air conditioned and has it's own little play yard. It was perfect for our pair of ladies, and we were glad they were happy there because they spent most of their lives at PAWS Atlanta. Betty and Barbara had been through a lot, and it took significant work to build trust with them. While they never found an adoptive home, PAWS Atlanta was their family. We still joke that there are limitless tennis balls buried all around the property from them.
More recently, our beloved long-term dog Ebbie, resided in the little cottage. He loved knocking on the adjoining window to the vet clinic to ask for treats. The team dubbed it "Ebbie's drive-thru." And while we said goodbye to Ebbie earlier this year, we know he loved his house. He was endlessly spoiled at his drive-thru and spent his days lounging in the sun in his yard.
Today, Hot Chocolate is enjoying the luxury of Betty and Barbara's House. He's much calmer in his new digs than he was in his kennel. He's a large shepherd mix and loves getting to stretch his legs whenever he wants. And he's learning all the tricks from Ebbie's example. It only took a matter of days for him to master the treat drive-thru. Hot Chocolate is still looking for an adoptive home! He would love to show you his tiny house if you pay him a visit, and maybe you'll let him come see your place too.
Ebbie, Barbara, and Betty are all a testament to PAWS Atlanta's commitment to caring for all our animals, no matter their barriers to adoption, no matter how long it takes. There's nothing we wouldn't do for our animals, from building a house to working the drive-thru. And when you give to PAWS Atlanta, you help make all of it possible.
🐾 Celebrate 60 years of going above and beyond for our pets, and donate today: givebutter.com/donate
