One new family member sitting on his lap, another being gently caressed by his wife nearby, Ron Widler turns uncharacteristically profound.

“It’s too bad people have to give them up,” he says.

Ron and his wife, Dorothy, are proud adopters of not one but two new family members: a mixed breed found abandoned on a roadside and another, a young adult the couple saw photographed in a newspaper ad.

“I’m a sucker for dogs,” Dorothy explains.

The first of the Widlers’ adoptions came in July 2006 at the behest of their human daughter, Jeannie Wildin.

Jeannie adopted a cat from a humane society eight or nine years ago. Oliver has lived at her County Seat business in Marion ever since.

At Jeannie’s urging, Dorothy looked at the web site of Caring Hands Humane Society in Newton and found a picture of the Widlers’ first new family member, Nugget, who was 8 to 10 weeks old at the time.

Nugget was one of four puppies found abandoned and already had her name. Dorothy picked her because of her white-tipped paws. The shelter’s only requirement was that the Widlers see to it that Nugget was spayed.

Three months ago, the Widlers saw a picture of their second new family member, Barney, also already named, in a newspaper ad for a different humane society, Kansas Canine Rescue of Wichita.

The ad said Barney was one of several dogs being shown for adoption at an area pet store.

Ron read about Barney, and agreed he would be OK with adopting him. When Dorothy met Barney in person, his friendly demeanor solidified their decision to adopt.

Adopting Barney, a full-grown puggle (pug and beagle mix), was a bit more complex. The Widlers had to fill out an application, including character references, and show they had enough room for him to get exercise.

They think the extra steps were worth it, however. Barney already had all his veterinary work. It cost $95 to adopt him.

Barney’s previous owner had lost her job and couldn’t afford to keep him anymore, Ron recalled.

“I think I’d go out begging before I’d give one up,” Dorothy chimed in. “They’re family members, too.”

Barney and Nugget are friendly, especially with strangers. After being let in, the dogs rushed to investigate a visitor. Barney even hopped into the stranger’s lap.

“That’s one thing,” Dorothy said. “These dogs are well trained: We yell at them, and they do what they want.”

Dorothy cannot understand why some people don’t like pets. To her, cruelty is unthinkable.

Former NFL quarterback Michael Vick, imprisoned until a few weeks ago for organizing dogfights, is not high on the Widlers’ guest list to visit Barney and Nugget.

“I hope they don’t let him play football again,” Dorothy said.