Meet Kirby, a 15-year-old Lhasa Apso mix who has faithfully watched over the Frattino home in Ardsley Park for nearly a decade. He comes by it naturally. The Lhasa Apso breed dates back to 800 BC Tibet, where they served as guard dogs for monasteries and palaces high in the Himalayas. Kirby has done a wonderful job living up to that ancient lineage, fearlessly keeping watch over his family and home in Ardsley. 

Kathleen adopted Kirby in Florida around 2012, when he was just a year old. His original name was "Munchy," thanks to a puppy habit of chewing on everything in sight. But Kathleen knew that wasn't quite right. The name Kirby just popped into her head, and it stuck. Sometimes the best names are the ones that feel a little bit fated. 

One of Kirby's most endearing qualities is his signature strut. He has a little hitch in one of his legs that his family first worried was a broken bone, but a vet later determined it was simply a growth defect that causes him no pain or discomfort. It certainly doesn't slow him down. Kirby can run just as fast as any other dog his size, and that little shuffle gives him a one-of-a-kind swagger that suits his big personality perfectly. 

He's always the first to greet his family at the door when they come home, and during times of illness he stays close by their side. His favorite treat? Whatever you're eating. And every single night, he curls up right next to Kathleen to sleep. When he's not holding down the fort at home, you can find Kirby enjoying the fresh air at McCauley Circle Park, one of those lovely Ardsley gathering spots that makes the neighborhood feel like home. 

Kathleen and her family have lived in the neighborhood since 2016 and love everything about it: the circle parks, the generous neighbors, and the unique charm that comes with living in this part of Savannah. And with Kirby on patrol, their little corner of Ardsley is in very good paws.