BAD RAP

We celebrated the brilliant life of neighbor and friend Rudy Hawkins this past weekend. You may have met Rudy in class or here on our page when he and his wife Jarvia adopted Ayse and then Enzo. He passed on May 6 after a long illness.

His love for his dogs says everything you need to know about Rudy. Ayse was a LIVE WIRE, and so was he! We knew they were cut from the same cloth when we learned that Ayse had climbed a big oak tree during their walk around Lake Merritt. Rudy held the leash at the bottom of that tree and laughed and laughed. SO proud of his little go-getter!

When Ayse's back legs gave out, he and Jarvia fitted her to a wheelchair and together, they carried on with life without skipping a beat. We all take comfort in knowing how much fun he and Ayse are having since being reunited.

Rudy left behind his lovely wife Jarvia and dogs Sasha and Enzo. You'll probably see them on this page as we organize play dates. Once family, always family.

All hands and paws up for Rudy and Ayse. Our mentors in unfiltered joy.

Remember these faces? There are SO many ways dogs can lose their homes, and just as many to help them stay safe and out of the shelters. BUT, finding the RIGHT solution that clicks into place can sometimes feel like a Rubik's Cube puzzle.

The situation to Nikki & Cato's crisis was making us crazy well over a year ago because we just couldn't get it right. Their owner died, and they moved into the his mother's garage. Not ideal in the slightest. She's disabled with her own small pets and they're both strong bigger dogs who were going thru their own grief. But they were her SON'S dogs and the thought of letting them go to an unknown fate at the local animal shelter was too painful. What to do?

Volunteers took them through our training class to clean up their leash manners while their new, understandably overwhelmed owner wept in the sidelines. Our SOS posts got next to nothing and as class was coming to an end, so were our ideas. It's a horrible feeling when you can't help someone you dearly want to help!

Fast forward to now. Nikki & Cato are still at the same address but, GUESS WHAT! lacking good options, caring neighbors came together and have worked out a 'dog share' routine that includes daily walks and attention. Neighbor Jenifer told us "They spend tons of time at our house. I’ve taken them on vacation to Half Moon Bay for the 4th of July and to the Claremont hotel for New Year’s Eve.I love them!"

OmgOmgOmg! Their situation reminds me that as advocates, it's okay to not have all the answers. Sometimes our job is to support as best we can until missing pieces fall into place. Thank you neighbors for relieving Jane of this difficult burden, turning it into a positive and for showing us how your Village operates. !!