A West Tennessee dog has so much love to give, he needs an entire neighborhood to share it all – he knows he can go to any door and he’ll be let in.

Three Way, TN (Madison County) - It's late afternoon on Maplecreek Lane, and Sam figures it's about time to rest from his labors.

He's been up and down the lane a couple of times waiting for residents to follow home for treats and a walk. He's played with a gaggle of neighborhood kids, chased away a couple of squirrels, and let everyone know in no uncertain terms that a stranger was on the block. Though a couple of rubs to the belly changed the interloper's status soon enough.

So it was time for a quick nap in the shade before Sam set out looking for dinner. He knew he wouldn't have to go far.

Not when you're the neighborhood dog. The official neighborhood dog.

Think of the best your life can get, compare it to Sam's and buckle up for a ride into Green-with-Envyland.

Several years ago, his original owners went through a divorce and couldn't include Sam with a move.

"They didn't want to put him in the shelter, so we all just decided we'd adopt him," Jocelyn Wingate said.

"We didn't own him at first, but we've claimed him," said Tommy Azbill, the former head of the neighborhood association. "His routine didn't really change. Just the ownership. We all knew him and loved him."

The folks on Maplecreek think their dog is about 9 years old. Breed? Maybe a bit of English setter, or border collie or retriever in the genetic bouillabaisse.

"That circle around his eye reminds me of Petey in the 'Little Rascals' movie," said Jane McDaniel, who lives at the top end of the street.

Those who would read this story and start grumbling about leash laws need to understand. The neighbors association chips in for his shots and vet care. At the end of the cove, Ken and Michelle Bevis have installed a dog door for Sam to duck out of inclement weather. At least two or three more homes have a corner set up for him to spend the night. He never wants for a regular bath, and he never leaves the block. With a setup like this, why leave?

"How good can it get? He's got the run of the neighborhood. Kids and grandkids who love him to death," Azbill said. "He tags along with anyone going for a walk, and they're glad to have him. He knows he can be at any door and he'll be let in."

The Bevises and their three children moved into the cove with cats and dogs (including one named Sammy) three years ago, and quickly became Sam's main base of operations.

"He just fit right in. Nothing seems to bother him, and we had all the equipment anyway," Michelle Bevis said.

The Bevis and McDaniel homes have dog dishes and food, but there are treats to be found anywhere along the way.

"I tried to give him Milk-Bones, but that didn't do. He loves pepperoni sticks," said new Jackson-Madison County Schools Superintendent Nancy Zambito, who just moved in with her husband, Bob Franz.

"I was thinking about getting a dog, but the neighborhood already has one. How great is that?"

So how is it that Sam isn't a 700-pound, tan-and-white Jabba the Hut?

"I go power walking every morning, and Sam's right out there with me," Michelle Bevis said.

"That's a good thing. For a while, he was getting pretty heavy," Azbill said with a laugh.

Sam also will meet Azbill when he goes for an early-morning stroll. When Jane McDaniel walks her family's dog, Pogo, Sam is usually along for the exercise.

"In fact, most of us go out for a walk, and Sam's usually there," Jocelyn Wingate said.

His afternoon routine is to wait by the decorative gate of the cul-de-sac for one of his friends, follow the car and get a bit of attention.

"He gets his treat and his rub, and then heads up for the next person," Wingate said with a laugh.

Azbill said his four grandkids love coming to his house. "They know Sam is there and he'll let them spoil him until he's had enough. Then he wanders to find someone else. There's always someone else."

Michelle Bevis says he's good at trapping snakes and critters that wander onto the property. "Once he got a squirrel, and put it at my husband's feet," she said. "Ken told him, 'Sam, Miss Michelle isn't going to be happy.' He picked it up, and took it right back into the woods. This is one smart dog."

He doesn't go after people, but in no uncertain terms will keep himself between his owners and strangers, barking all the way.

"I never feel scared walking in the neighborhood, because Sam is right there," Wingate said.

There's only one possible downside to this most unique arrangement.

Want Sam as part of the Christmas card picture? Make an appointment.

The Story by Pete Wickham

Photo by Kate Morgan