2-year-old Bella is being surrendered to the shelter as we type this. (Reason: Moving.) She is a Boston terrier, good with dogs and kiddos. She is now at East Valley shelter. Run, don’t walk.
Nothing about this is fair.
Camila was abandoned by her guardian. The dog she was dumped with was killed. Her rescue promised to reclaim her, but they are now unreachable.
Camila has lost her trust in humans—assuming she ever trusted us. A piece of her tongue is gone, some of her teeth are missing, and she has some upsetting wounds on her body.
Brian and I hung out with Camila in the shelter’s yard, and she accepted treats gently. The next day, she accepted light petting. Today, she met more friends. Her mouth is now open, her feet are kicked out, and she leans into you.
It’s a tough time to be a dog in an L.A. shelter. New rules limit what volunteers can do for the dogs. This exacerbates dogs’ anxiety and jeopardizes their chances.
Camila needs a unicorn: someone dog-savvy with no other dogs (or the means to keep them separate) who can earn her trust and make her comfortable. And maybe even happy.
The odds wouldn’t be great for Camila in the best of times. (Not to put too fine a point on it, but these are the Worst of Times.) Anyone out there who could take Camila on as a project dog? We can help. Please DM me.
Can you ever have too much Frenchie?
Mary and Farfalle enjoyed their 15 minutes of fame with Carrie and Dave on SCVTV's Community Corner. While Mary charmed the hosts, Farfalle made sad eyes at the camera. They KILLED it!
Mary (5) and Farfalle (7) would love to go home together or separately. They love kids and the company of other dogs—the bigger the pack the better!
Come meet these two this Sunday at @MalibuFarmersMarket and let them charm your socks off.
To hell with the shelter freedom walk. Here’s a DOG-GOING-HOME walk! And Bella (aka: Nelia) from East Valley shelter has absolutely hit the jackpot. Just look at her new backyard!
We rescued Bella in April and got her to trainer Joe DogFitLa, who helped her decompress and socialize with other dogs. She didn't need much. She has a lovely, calm disposition, is no drama with other dogs, and warms up quickly to humans.
We watched Bella BRING IT at the Nectar of the Dogs anniversary event in May. That’s where her new moms, Kiki and Teri, spent some time with her and decided she’d make a great addition to their family. Their two goldens, Whiskey and Ruger, agree!
We’ll miss this girl. I’d like to think the feeling is mutual and that she gave me a little “thank you” at the end of the video. But it’s this new beginning that’s so gratifying. It's why we keep doing this.
How long has Rex been in the shelter? Over 1 year. When is his euth date? Tomorrow, June 13th. And what’s in this video?
HIS FREEDOM WALK! (And don’t we all need to see one right about now?)
Today was Rex's lucky day. At the urging of volunteers Megan Karasch and John O'Looney, we were able to meet and spend time with Rex, and we got to experience what a happy, playful young boy he is.
Misunderstood, Rex was recently red-listed for poor kennel presence. Nevermind that he’s been kenneled with 5 other dogs since his arrival and has done great. His new mom Brandi has adopted other West Valley dogs and understands decompression and slow integration with the pack. And that’s exactly what Rex will be getting.
It’s not a good time for any dog to be red-listed at an LAAS shelter. But it’s always a good time to get one outta the cage!
Congratulations, Rex, you made it!
Over A YEAR in the shelter, yellow-listed, and still… no interest.
Ruby is one of those dogs that everyone takes for granted. “She’ll get out,” we reason. After all, Ruby is human- and dog-friendly and has that great balance between calm and playful that everyone wants in a dog.
And yet here she is, now YELLOW-LISTED at West Valley shelter, her “home” since last November. Ruby is a big potato of a dog and maybe it’s her size that’s jeopardizing her adoption. She’s been reliably kenneled with other dogs, enjoys playgroup, and has no problem cozying up to strangers. Still no takers.
Ruby is 3 years old, spayed, and ready to go home. We’re hoping that someone with another playful dog comes and scoops her up. At this point, getting her pics and videos in front of friends of friends is the likeliest way to make that happen. Can you share sweet, silly Ruby?
Ruby: #A2059774
West Valley Animal Shelter
20655 Plummer
Chatsworth CA
818-756-9325
Open 8-5 Tues-Fri, 11-5 Sat and Sun
We just met Rex at West Valley, not realizing that he’d been at the shelter an entire year. We’re spitballing here, but Rex strikes us as a beautiful blend of Labrador and Akita. He's 3 years old, medium-sized, and he is now red-listed.
We had the chance to talk to Randy, a good Samaritan who found Rex dodging traffic on a busy street and managed to get him into his car. Rex was wearing a harness that was too small for him. Whoever owned him didn't look very hard.
Friendly and engaging with other dogs in playgroup, Rex loves chase play with his buddies. He’s an active guy who’d make a great hiking or running partner. Given his tenure, he could use some quiet and deliberate decompression time. But he deserves it.
Rex’s last day is June 14. Please come meet him this weekend. DM us if you need help, we love this joyful boy!
Rex: #A2085959
West Valley Animal Shelter
20655 Plummer
Chatsworth CA
818-756-9325
Open 8-5 Tues-Fri, 11-5 Sat and Sun
The shy brindle mastiff is Shimmer. We were part of a team who rescued her this past week based on this video.
The shepherd helper dog is Matilda. She is a greeter in the shelter's playgroup, performing the invaluable service of testing dogs whose behaviors are unknown.
Now it's Matilda's turn to find a forever family. She's 3 years old, bombproof with dogs, and stuck at L.A.'s most crowded shelter. C'mon, shep-lovers, it's Matilda's turn!
Matilda: #A2119069
South LA / Chesterfield Square Shelter
1850 W. 60th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90047
Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday - Sunday, 11:00am - 5:00pm
(888) 452-7381
Back in March we were at South LA shelter rescuing a livestock guardian dog. We had to go “in back” and—as you’ve likely seen from all the Instagram reels—we were confronted with a hallway lined with crates full of dogs.
One dog in particular caught our eye. Dodger was hunched in his crate. There was poop. South LA simply doesn’t have enough staff or volunteers—or, let’s be realistic, adopters. Dodger's low A number indicated that he’d been at the shelter before.
He lifted his head and made eye contact. “WTF happened?” he seemed to be asking.
At South again last week, we asked to see Dodger. Volunteer @AshleyPitman got him out. Dodger was dirty and a bit heftier than the last time. But he trotted around eagerly checking in with us as if the whole thing were too good to be true.
Maybe it was. Dodger’s a charming dog. He has a genuine smile and his enthusiasm is intact (Dodger is neutered). But he’s a 4-year-old pittie in a shelter bursting at the seams with them. Dodger is likely to be at least partially deaf. And it IS South L.A. after all, so anyone assuming a 5-month tenure isn’t cause for concern hasn’t been paying attention.
Watch Dodger’s tail and look at his smile. It’s a mirror that reflects his will to live and his joy spending time in the fresh air with friends. Please consider adopting Dodger. He’s one of hundreds. But maybe he’s THE one?
Dodger: #A1924599
South LA / Chesterfield Square Shelter
1850 W. 60th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90047
Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday - Sunday, 11:00am - 5:00pm
(888) 452-7381
Euth-listed for May 31st. Reason? Poor kennel presence. Prognosis? Dire.
But today Daytona at West Valley shelter got a new date: a date with his new owner! That’s right, Daytona is outta the cage and on his way to his new life in Sonoma!
Daytona’s new dad Eric saw our “Shep-Parade!” video on Instagram. Although each of the dogs is only featured for a few seconds, he noticed Daytona. A few searches and he saw that Daytona was running out of time. That’s when he called Jill, who promised to convene a few Daytona-loving volunteers to show Eric what an amazing dog Daytona is.
Today was the day. We’d lined up several other shepherds just in case it wasn’t a love match. But in the end Eric—who spent an hour and a half asking questions and working with Daytona—knew he was the one.
Thanks to the volunteers at West Valley shelter for making today Daytona's best day in a future of many good days to come!
Smartypants Chief is outta the cage!
3-year-old Chief has lived at West Valley shelter since last November. Belgian Malinois never do well when they’re confined in kennels. Chief surprised everyone by coming up with his own “enrichment” activities, including disabling the guillotine door in his kennel and playing creatively with toys.
But captivity is captivity, and when Chief began losing weight. He began spinning in his kennel, volunteers became concerned. They got him Chief out on regular walks with other dogs (he was pretty much avoidant), and played lots of fetch. But a stressed dog is a stressed dog.
Chief perked up today when he figured out (smart boy) that we were there to rescue him. He's now on his way to Noah, a Mal-savvy adopter who understands Mal smarts and decompression and will give Chief an amazing life. It’s Chief’s turn, and he deserves it.
Thanks to John O'Looney, Brian Gilles, and Luci, and the West Valley volunteers for keeping Chief entertained, and to Bonnie LaPierre for enduring the surprises that are transport, and for managing the project for getting Chief HOME!
Poor Violet has been at West Valley shelter since last August. She was adopted and returned—her family says she’s “loving and affectionate, but strong”—and she hasn’t had much interest since.
Violet is dog-friendly in the shelter’s play group and is kenneled with another dog with no issues. Except for Violet is an active girl. Like many larger breeds, she needs more exercise and engagement than she’s getting in the shelter. The volunteers play fetch with her, but they have lots of dogs to get out and it’s never really enough for poor Violet.
Violet is a stunning shepherd mix who has a gorgeous smile and a friendly demeanor. No issues with strangers. We’d say no little kiddos since she could knock ‘em down. It would be cool to see Violet run beside a bike or go on hikes with her human.
My dream for her is a guy or gal with a pickup truck would come get her, secure her in the passenger seat, and let Violet ride shotgun up to the ranch (or wherever she could run free and get her mojo back). Her smile would be even BIGGER!
Please come meet Violet in Chatsworth. They'll provide the tennis balls, you provide the pickup truck.
Violet: #A2063188
West Valley Animal Shelter
20655 Plummer
Chatsworth CA
818-756-9325
Open 8-5 Tues-Fri, 11-5 Sat and Sun
Murphy ended up at East Valley in June, 2021. He was friendly, quiet, and obedient. But he was also a burly brindle mastiff. People looked, oooh’ed and ahhh’ed—and kept walking. In October, he was transferred to North Central shelter and renamed “Goliath.”
He was still at North Central in March 2022 when came to see him. He was curled in a ball in his kennel and wouldn’t make eye contact. We rescued him and took him to Humble K9. His light came back, thank God, and he was once again a cheerful boy who loved his car rides and pack walks.
Then there were conversations between trainers John Flores and art_noumenon (Vo) and before we fully understood what was happening, Vo adopted Murphy. We couldn’t believe it! Vo renamed him Tiger and used him as a helper dog.
Now Tiger is the star in a national Subaru commercial. We figured we got lucky when John told us he was an amazing dog. Then Vo adopted him and we thanked the universe. And now he’s gonna be the face of Subaru.
Thanks, HumbleK9, Vo, and Subaru of America, Inc. Congratulations, Tiger, remember the little people!
PUPDATE: Rylie has been ADOPTED! A very nice, working dog-savvy man drove out from Kentucky to get her. Yes, really. More of this, please.
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Rylie is a stunning shepherd who volunteers describe as “a great dog who was well-behaved from the very beginning.” Seems she’s happy and social. So why has she been at West Valley shelter since last JULY?!?
The answer: too many shepherds. When adopters cruise the kennels, the abundance of German Shepherds becomes a blur. They’re just seen as “one more shepherd,” not as individuals. They become commoditized.
But to see Rylie in person, to play with her in the yard, to take her on a parallel walk with another dog, and to just hang out with her in the yard is to understand what a special dog she is.
Rylie even passed her search-and-rescue assessment (thanks, Jennifer Downs!). She particularly enjoyed the test where she had to find a toy under a pile of blankets.
Rylie is 3 years old. She was found as a stray with a microchip, but the owner registered claimed they had “sold” Rylie to another party. So she sits in the shelter, wondering where her people are, looking forward to her next venture out of her kennel to play some fetch, and wait for someone to notice her.
Rylie: #A2095944
West Valley Animal Shelter
20655 Plummer
Chatsworth CA
818-756-9325
Open 8-5 Tues-Fri, 11-5 Sat and Sun
The volunteers who know Dude feel he’s been misunderstood.
Since Dude arrived at West Valley Animal Shelter as a stray, he’s been anxious in his kennel. What that looks like: barking, spinning, running back and forth, and stiffness as people approach.
Volunteers Tom Kiesche and Brian, along with a shelter staff member, started working with Dude in December, and our video is proof that he’s become more social and engaged when he’s taken out. Volunteer John O'Looney walks Dude regularly says that he has “transformed” and now goes on parallel walks with other dogs.
A recent note says “Dude is very friendly…easy to enter kennel and leash, jumps up a little with affection. Dude walks well, pulls slightly at times, does a bit of smelling, but moves along happily. Very calm and well-behaved, he is truly a good-natured, friendly boy.”
Despite his improvements, Dude remains stressed-out in his kennel and is designated rescue-only. Those who know Dude would like to get in front of his networking, lest they red-list him soon. Dude would do best with a shep-savvy person willing to give him decompression and acclimation time.
Dude is 5 years old, appears to be house trained, walks moderately well on leash, and loves hanging out in the shade with a tennis ball. Please share him with your shep-loving friends who might have a spot for one more.
Dude: #A2109176
West Valley Animal Shelter
20655 Plummer
Chatsworth CA
818-756-9325
Open 8-5 Tues-Fri, 11-5 Sat and Sun
Chubs sat in the back row of kennels at East Valley shelter from August 2023 to March 2024. We kept assuming that he’d be adopted and we rescued other dogs. But every time we’d go to check on Chubs, he was still there, still kenneled with Corso Zambo, still chill.
We rescued Zambo and placed him with a lovely family. Chubs lingered at the shelter. Finally, we rescued Chubs and brought him to Joe at DogFitLa.
Correction: We brought him to Joe’s FAMILY. Joe’s kids re-named Chubs to Max (for “Maximus”), and Joe’s wife Stacy crushed on Max and posted her own pics of him. It was a family affair, and Chubs/Max relished the attention, training, and routine he'd been missing.
Fast forward to the Sepulveda Basin adoption event and Max was the first adopted dog of the DAY! (They rang the bell for him.) His new family had their little senior dog in tow, and it was a love match all ‘round. We’re late posting this because we’re still pinching ourselves about how lucky everyone’s been.
How lucky? Max now has a family of his own with two boys, a doggie buddy, and a huge backyard in Porter Ranch. It’s all we ever wanted for him. And it was his turn.
Miss you, buddy but we know you’re not looking back.
