Hannah came through.

Shortly after 1 p.m., Montana time, the old girl -- a 9-year-old terrier mix who has put in two months with no takers at the Western Montana Humane Society -- delivered Valentine's Day wishes to my girlfriend.

Chaperoned by Peter Bensen, society director, Hannah spent about 10 minutes at the Missoulian newspaper, exchanged some cuddles with Tamara Granger (she's the one in the red shirt, lest there be any confusion), then continued her assigned rounds, joining the other dogs who were spreading Valentine's Day cheer across the fair city of Missoula.

The deliveries were part of a program in which, in exchange for sponsoring a shelter dog, the society delivered Valentine's Day greetings and a gift package to the person of your choice, in many cases with the sponsored dog going along.

In the case of my doggie Valentine, at least, it went over well. Tamara, who can't have a dog where she's living, appreciated the visit from Hannah, who was the featured dog in a humane society advertisement she helped put together a couple of weeks ago.

In fact, there's only one way the ending could be happier -- and that's if somebody, perhaps smitten by those wise and piercing eyes she has (Hannah's, I mean) were to show up and take her home.

(The photo to the right was taken by Krista Miller, a student at the University of Montana School of Journalism who is serving an internship as a staff photographer at the Missoulian.)