Yesterday, heaven got another angel, Red, our sweet senior dog, who was adopted only seven months ago, made his transition.  Red was a dog that Debbie and Deb introduced me to at the South LA Shelter.  He had come into the shelter as a stray.  What an amazing dog he was, so friendly, good with other dogs, someone had truly loved him but his past life would always be a mystery.  He was listed as ten years old but I thought, he has to be more like 14 years old.

There was definitely something very special about Red.  So special that I wanted to bring him into our rescue, thinking if he never got adopted, I would keep him with me.  He was such a cool dog who adapted to life at our kennel in South Gate as if he always lived with us.  He loved the girl dogs, our walks down the street, past all the auto body shops, nothing phased this road dog.  I took him out to Dog Man’s class where former adopter and Dog Man student Barnaby met him and was taken with his personality, just as I had at the shelter.

Barnaby decided to bring Red home and it wasn’t easy.  Red was accustomed to being with someone almost 24/7.  He had separation anxiety.  Barnaby and I worked together, Red spent some time at the kennel, going back home and then back to the kennel.

Finally he settled into his new home life, but then the sad news was delivered by Red’s vet, he had cancer.  The next months were “Red’s Bucket List” Barnaby would bring him to the kennel to visit his “girlfriends” at every visit, he seemed happier.  Our girl dogs still adored him.  What a wonderful life he had, those short months with Barnaby and his pack, who towards then end, finally accepted him.  There was never enough time with Red, he left us too soon.  This past Sunday Barnaby brought Red to the kennel one final time for me and Debbie to say goodbye.

Tears, as I write this post…