If you live in Oxford, you are bound to hear Rusty Tubbs and his German Shepherd, Ranger, before you see them.

Riding in a red truck, Ranger’s booming barks have become a familiar sound around town, as the dog eagerly announces their arrival wherever they go. Tubbs’ companionship with Ranger is unmistakable, and it all started with an unexpected Father’s Day gift from his child in Birmingham.

“They called me up and said, ‘Hey, I got you a present,’” and I said they didn’t need to buy me anything and to take it back,” Tubbs said. However, he made the drive to Birmingham regardless.

When Tubbs arrived, he was introduced to Ranger, a slightly reserved German Shepherd, already a few years old. Ranger’s history was a bit complicated; he’d been bounced from home to home, even facing abuse and neglect along the way.

Tubbs wasn’t put off by Ranger’s past. His own history is also “colorful” as he puts it.

“I was kind of a black sheep,” Tubbs admitted. “But I think that’s why we get on so well. He and I, we’re a lot alike.”

By the time Ranger landed with Tubbs, he was wary and had developed Degenerative Myelopathy, a disease that attacks the spinal column and is common in German Shepherds. Still, Tubbs saw a kindred spirit in the dog, both of them ready for some stable companionship.

“I just got used to not having a dog,” Tubbs said.

But meeting Ranger changed everything. Although he hadn’t planned on taking in a new friend, Tubbs vowed to give Ranger the best life he could.

“Nobody wanted him, and at the time nobody wanted me,” Tubbs said matter-of-factly.

Keeping Ranger in good health has been no small feat. Tubbs spends $150 every month on shots to help Ranger stay comfortable.

“God, I could buy a new Toyota truck for what I spend on him every month, but I promised I’d give him the best I could.”

At one point, Ranger weighed a hefty 125 pounds, though, after some dietary changes at the vet’s advice, he’s down to around 90 pounds.

Around Oxford, Tubbs and Ranger are known for their distinctive rides through town. Tubbs says Ranger loves nothing more than hopping in the truck and barking his heart out. The two have attracted plenty of attention, with people stopping at red lights to record videos of Ranger’s joyful barking.

“If there’s a fire truck or an ambulance, he’ll sing you a tune,” Tubbs chuckled.

Tubbs even tried a bark collar once to reduce the noise, but that plan didn’t last long.

“I had to pull over and fight him to get it off. I figured if he’s having a good time, let him be. He’s had a rough past. So I let him have a big time when we ride.”

In their early days together, Ranger would whine, unsure about this new life. Tubbs had finally rolled down the truck windows one day and told Ranger to “tell it to the world.”

Ranger took it to heart, and he hasn’t stopped since.

These days, Tubbs and Ranger spend most of their time together, sharing a quiet life in Tubbs’s home off South 18^th Street. Tubbs even put a mattress in the living room to make it easier for Ranger.

While Tubbs says he’d like to settle down with someone one day, his priority right now is caring for Ranger.

“It’s just him and me,” Tubbs said. “We’re just gonna keep riding around and I’ll let him have a big time doing it.”