The Red Dog Inn

If you thought canine rescue was easy, think again. This story begins on Thursday, when friend Julia,  owner and operator of Happy Hound Helpers and a volunteer for Daphneyland, a non-profit basset hound rescue in Acton, CA, posted a photo of two dogs on her Facebook wall.  I looked at the one and thought, “That looks like Lu!”

Then I heard that all the Basset Shelters were full. Let me help you understand the scope. Daphneyland is FULL. Daphneyland is the temporary home for 100, yes, ONE HUNDRED,  hounds and miscategorized dogs. The other rescue in our region also was full. (Sadly, this is true for many rescues.)

A plea for help!

Then, the boom dropped. The shelter said the red dog had been there since May and was scheduled to be euthanized on Saturday unless the rescue took her.  There was nothing wrong with the dog.  She had been a stray.   So, Julia worked the phones. I stared at that face and prayed, “What do You want me to do?”

FOSTER.

“Julia, I can foster one of these dogs. My county will not allow me to have more than three dogs at my house.”
So Julie kept working the phones, and working the phones, to determine which dog was the hardest luck case.  She tried to arrange transport for not one but two dogs, one of which was deemed a “grrr” dog (grrr=grumpy.  This means that only a trusted rescue can take the dog so it can be evaluated, rehabbed and hopefully rehomed. Typically, the GRRR Dogs just need to get out of the shelter and in a few days, are as right as rain.

At 8 p.m. — about 36 hours after the photo was posted — I received a text message telling me where to be and when. The dogs were being driven from Palm Springs to Pasadena (104 miles).

So, I was up at 6 to get my car serviced in time to pick up my foster pup.  I explained to the service manager at Ken Grody Ford what I was doing, and those guys in that service department made sure I was out of there in plenty of time.  In fact, I go there two hours early, which as anyone who knows me will attest, is a bona fide miracle!

I stopped at Petco to pick up a few things. I met a woman who had just helped a Chow mix she found on the freeway.

I jumped back in my car. I had an hour until the dogs would arrive. Wouldn’t you know it! I have three mapping apps on my phone and each of them got me LOST!!! I did notice that Pasadena was having a Music Festival on my scenic tour, so instead of 45 miles one way, I did about 55!  Eventually, I found the location.

Shortly after playing with Julia’s basset in the parking lot, the dogs arrived courtesy of Animal Samaritans SPCA! (Thanks, Price!)

The GRR dog was unloaded first and handed to me. Hardly a “GRR” dog. She was a little grumpy around other dogs, but with people she was fine.  Once she was secured in Linda’s car (Linda, BLESS YOU! Linda took two dogs with special needs to the ranch!) , the dog I was there to get was unloaded.

A wriggly, brown pup all but jumped in my arms.  After debating how much basset she was or wasn’t, Julia asked, what’s her name?

And that’s where the journey begins.