TITO
Sachi's "Gift that kept on Giving" as I used to call him, our Tito The Great passed away peacefully in his foster home on September 18, 2015. From the moment we all met Tito, we knew we were dealing with a very special soul. He was a senior boxer who had been "rescued' from the Carson shelter, only to be dumped into one of the boarding facilities we were using. For three months he sat there waiting, with no visitors nor medical attention. By the time the owner of the facility brought him to our attention, asking us if we could include him in our Sachi dogs social outings, Tito was a very emaciated boy who was still waiting to be neutered and in poor physical condition.
My first mission was to research who was responsible for his "well being" as I certainly didn't want to step on any toes. It took several months to get straight answers, figuring out which rescue had officially pulled him from Carson, and who was sponsoring his boarding costs. In the meantime, seeing him go downhill, I broke down and took him to our vet for a full check up.
Dr Galea did a blood panel, fecal test and subsequently treated him for giardia but determined that he was suffering from some heart condition, therefore didn't want to neuter him until he saw our cardiologist. Off went Tito to Dr Saelinger, our fabulous cardiologist, where he was cleared for
surgery but was immediately put on heart medications for of course arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy as well as dilation of both the left ventricle, plus valve regurgitation and left and right atrial dilation and enlargement. Dr Galea neutered him and removed a few cancerous growths, while we actively looked for a foster home where he could recover. Wonderful Tina opened up her home to Tito and for about 10 days he not only recuperated but improved, until all of a sudden he went downhill and was
rushed to the emergency where he was seen by an internist. His liver values were elevated and at the time they suggested possible liver and/or gall bladder infections, pancreatitis or a cancerous process. Needless to say it took many vet visits to get Tito The Great back on track, but recuperate he did and thrived under the watchful and loving eyes of Tina, his foster mommy. This was back in December 2014 and January 2015.
Tito was never officially a "Sachi" dog since I was never able to get his paperwork transferred to our rescue. My attempts to do so where not productive. But Tito was a "Sachi" dog in every other aspects and as such he received the best possible medical care he could have gotten. I just recently added his medical bills and realized that he currently holds the prominent title of the most expensive Sachi dog, with medical bills surpassing $15,000.00. (his monthly medications alone were almost $500.00)
Hence his nickname of Tito, The Gift that kept on Giving!
More importantly, Tito The Great had found his forever home with his foster mommy Tina and her son Jesse. When Tina and I saw each other it was clear to Tina (if not me since I always held out hope that he would be adopted officially) that Tito would never leave and that he had already found his
forever with Tina and Jesse. He was with Tina from January 5th, 2015, the day he was discharged from Dr Galea after his neutering surgery until the end on September 18th. He spent almost 9 glorious months with them where he became a happy, "healthy" boxer boy who enjoyed multiple walks and outings, visiting children in schools as well as elderly centers. Wherever Tito went, he made friends and became yet another ambassador for the boxer breed we all cherish.
Once again, I cannot thank Tina enough for giving this big teddy bear of a boxer such an amazing and joyous end of life, without a doubt something he sorely lacked in his younger days. I am and always will be in awe and gratitude of her and by extension of all the amazing foster parents who give
our Sachi orphans a second chance at being loved and cared for the way all dogs should be.
Please read Tina's following write up on Tito's amazing life with her.
In memorial to Tito: By foster mom Tina
Tito came to me in January of this year, a medically neglected and emaciated
senior. Sachi stepped in and rescued him from the untenable life he was
leading. They brought him to me to decompress from his neutering and tumor
removal surgeries. Initially, he was crated. Once he was strong enough, the
crate became his Houdini escape opportunity. He baffled us with his ability
to maneuver himself out of his crate. After a few months of settling in and
realizing he was safe now, I was able to eliminate the crate and let him
rule the roost! Over time, Tito put on weight and came into his own
greatness.
Tito was a sweet, silly, unusually calm boy. We joked, that because of his
soft longer fur and ginormous paws, he was part bear. Unlike a typical
boxer, he had a long bushy tail that announced his joy with the back and
forth sound of his tail hitting the wall or whatever was near. Most of the
time he was calm and even keeled, with the exception of when he'd greet me
in a puppy-like bounce to let me know he was happy I'd returned, even if I
was only gone for a few minutes to just get the laundry!
Tito would greet everyone he saw with excited curiosity and say hello by
licking their face, if they let him. He loved all ages, babies, kids, adults
and especially senior citizens. One of his favorite outings was when I'd
take him to see my mom at the assisted living home, knowing that as soon as
we entered the place, everyone was thrilled to see him. He couldn't wait to
get to the patio where lunch awaited. He quietly went from table to table,
calmly waiting for the residents to feed him whatever was on the lunch menu!
I'm not sure who got more out of it, the seniors or Tito.
I'll miss Tito's chill presence and sweet nature. Cuddling up with him was
something I looked forward to. Thank you sweet boy for enhancing my life and
letting me share yours, if only for a brief time!
My first mission was to research who was responsible for his "well being" as I certainly didn't want to step on any toes. It took several months to get straight answers, figuring out which rescue had officially pulled him from Carson, and who was sponsoring his boarding costs. In the meantime, seeing him go downhill, I broke down and took him to our vet for a full check up.
Dr Galea did a blood panel, fecal test and subsequently treated him for giardia but determined that he was suffering from some heart condition, therefore didn't want to neuter him until he saw our cardiologist. Off went Tito to Dr Saelinger, our fabulous cardiologist, where he was cleared for
surgery but was immediately put on heart medications for of course arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy as well as dilation of both the left ventricle, plus valve regurgitation and left and right atrial dilation and enlargement. Dr Galea neutered him and removed a few cancerous growths, while we actively looked for a foster home where he could recover. Wonderful Tina opened up her home to Tito and for about 10 days he not only recuperated but improved, until all of a sudden he went downhill and was
rushed to the emergency where he was seen by an internist. His liver values were elevated and at the time they suggested possible liver and/or gall bladder infections, pancreatitis or a cancerous process. Needless to say it took many vet visits to get Tito The Great back on track, but recuperate he did and thrived under the watchful and loving eyes of Tina, his foster mommy. This was back in December 2014 and January 2015.
Tito was never officially a "Sachi" dog since I was never able to get his paperwork transferred to our rescue. My attempts to do so where not productive. But Tito was a "Sachi" dog in every other aspects and as such he received the best possible medical care he could have gotten. I just recently added his medical bills and realized that he currently holds the prominent title of the most expensive Sachi dog, with medical bills surpassing $15,000.00. (his monthly medications alone were almost $500.00)
Hence his nickname of Tito, The Gift that kept on Giving!
More importantly, Tito The Great had found his forever home with his foster mommy Tina and her son Jesse. When Tina and I saw each other it was clear to Tina (if not me since I always held out hope that he would be adopted officially) that Tito would never leave and that he had already found his
forever with Tina and Jesse. He was with Tina from January 5th, 2015, the day he was discharged from Dr Galea after his neutering surgery until the end on September 18th. He spent almost 9 glorious months with them where he became a happy, "healthy" boxer boy who enjoyed multiple walks and outings, visiting children in schools as well as elderly centers. Wherever Tito went, he made friends and became yet another ambassador for the boxer breed we all cherish.
Once again, I cannot thank Tina enough for giving this big teddy bear of a boxer such an amazing and joyous end of life, without a doubt something he sorely lacked in his younger days. I am and always will be in awe and gratitude of her and by extension of all the amazing foster parents who give
our Sachi orphans a second chance at being loved and cared for the way all dogs should be.
Please read Tina's following write up on Tito's amazing life with her.
In memorial to Tito: By foster mom Tina
Tito came to me in January of this year, a medically neglected and emaciated
senior. Sachi stepped in and rescued him from the untenable life he was
leading. They brought him to me to decompress from his neutering and tumor
removal surgeries. Initially, he was crated. Once he was strong enough, the
crate became his Houdini escape opportunity. He baffled us with his ability
to maneuver himself out of his crate. After a few months of settling in and
realizing he was safe now, I was able to eliminate the crate and let him
rule the roost! Over time, Tito put on weight and came into his own
greatness.
Tito was a sweet, silly, unusually calm boy. We joked, that because of his
soft longer fur and ginormous paws, he was part bear. Unlike a typical
boxer, he had a long bushy tail that announced his joy with the back and
forth sound of his tail hitting the wall or whatever was near. Most of the
time he was calm and even keeled, with the exception of when he'd greet me
in a puppy-like bounce to let me know he was happy I'd returned, even if I
was only gone for a few minutes to just get the laundry!
Tito would greet everyone he saw with excited curiosity and say hello by
licking their face, if they let him. He loved all ages, babies, kids, adults
and especially senior citizens. One of his favorite outings was when I'd
take him to see my mom at the assisted living home, knowing that as soon as
we entered the place, everyone was thrilled to see him. He couldn't wait to
get to the patio where lunch awaited. He quietly went from table to table,
calmly waiting for the residents to feed him whatever was on the lunch menu!
I'm not sure who got more out of it, the seniors or Tito.
I'll miss Tito's chill presence and sweet nature. Cuddling up with him was
something I looked forward to. Thank you sweet boy for enhancing my life and
letting me share yours, if only for a brief time!
Meyer
THE LONG GOODBYE,
Our Pimp Daddy Boy, Meyer Meyer Pants On Fire, left us Sunday August 30 at 9:42 pm.
Meyer was one of the last "original" Sachi bad boys. He came to us via Brla where he wasted his youth with no end in sight, day in and day out. He came to that place as a young unruly boxer boy who developed some attitude after waiting in vain for someone to take him home. Several years kenneled would do that to a dog, particularly a boxer! In 2009, when Sachi was created, we took him on, along with several others in a similar and all too familiar situation.
While Meyer was never officially adopted, he did live a full life with his foster mom Martina and dad Gene, as well as many four legged brothers and sisters. He was happy and fulfilled and became a well adjusted loving boxer monkey. I always cherished my visits with him, (not just because Martina always has some liquor on end) but mostly because upon seeing me he would jump and hug me with his front paws and I would start shouting "Meyer, Meyer Pants On Fire" and he would become airborne with his two front legs wrapped around me. This was our little dance. Meyer was the ultimate humorous boxer boy.
Over the past few months his back legs started weakening and giving out but he still managed to maneuver around, his spirit high and his sense of humor unbroken. He declined rapidly last week and when I came in Sunday evening and he simply couldn't move, we took him immediately to ASEC where a quick ultrasound confirmed a mass in his abdomen. At that point both Martina and I made the decision to let him go with dignity and love. He passed away peacefully, his big head on my shoulder doing what he did best til the end, smothering us with big sloppy kisses.
You will always be the One and Only Meyer Meyer Pants On Fire.
Our Pimp Daddy Boy, Meyer Meyer Pants On Fire, left us Sunday August 30 at 9:42 pm.
Meyer was one of the last "original" Sachi bad boys. He came to us via Brla where he wasted his youth with no end in sight, day in and day out. He came to that place as a young unruly boxer boy who developed some attitude after waiting in vain for someone to take him home. Several years kenneled would do that to a dog, particularly a boxer! In 2009, when Sachi was created, we took him on, along with several others in a similar and all too familiar situation.
While Meyer was never officially adopted, he did live a full life with his foster mom Martina and dad Gene, as well as many four legged brothers and sisters. He was happy and fulfilled and became a well adjusted loving boxer monkey. I always cherished my visits with him, (not just because Martina always has some liquor on end) but mostly because upon seeing me he would jump and hug me with his front paws and I would start shouting "Meyer, Meyer Pants On Fire" and he would become airborne with his two front legs wrapped around me. This was our little dance. Meyer was the ultimate humorous boxer boy.
Over the past few months his back legs started weakening and giving out but he still managed to maneuver around, his spirit high and his sense of humor unbroken. He declined rapidly last week and when I came in Sunday evening and he simply couldn't move, we took him immediately to ASEC where a quick ultrasound confirmed a mass in his abdomen. At that point both Martina and I made the decision to let him go with dignity and love. He passed away peacefully, his big head on my shoulder doing what he did best til the end, smothering us with big sloppy kisses.
You will always be the One and Only Meyer Meyer Pants On Fire.
Bubba
I am so sad to announce that Bubba passed away from heart disease on May 4, 2014.
In November 2011 I wasn't quite ready to adopt another dog, but open to fostering. I was at the kennel walking all the Sachi pups when Raphaele asked me "Well Laura, who are you going to foster?" I said Bubba. She looked at me and said "He is a Bubba, I am warning you." I wondered what she meant. Bubba was the only dog in the kennel that didn't bark and/ or jump up on the kennel fence. He just sat there, tilted his head with his big floppy ears, & looked at me. He was super cute, very very skinny, obviously not doing well in the kennel, & I knew I had to give him a foster home.
Well I began to understand quickly what "Being a Bubba" meant. I put him in his crate, and all he did is bark- loudly!!! Neighbors I knew were calling & telling me nicely that my dog was disturbing them. Neighbors I didn't know were yelling out their window "Shut that dog up!". I didn't know what to do- I was afraid I would have to bring him back to the kennel (as his two previous owners & numerous foster families had done). When I took him out of the crate he seemed so happy! But when I left the house with him out of the crate he opened & rearranged the contents from inside my kitchen cabinets to the floor. He opened my closet doors & took all my clothes off the hanger- he preferred them to be on the floor. Frustrated, I called Raphaele & she told me to get child proof locks to put on the cabinet doors so Bubba wouldn't be able to open them. I did that, he left the childproof locks alone & instead removed the hinges from the cabinet doors opened them from that side. Ey yey yey- I understood what " Being a Bubba" meant.
Nonetheless, I was attached to him, loved him, & could not let him go, so I became a foster failure & adopted him. He was- and always will be- my "Boops", my Bubba.
I do know that even when he was "Being a Bubba" he was truly an amazing & fun dog!! His love and his playfulness far outweighed his "Bubba" antics. He loved to play ball, especially in the sandbox in Playa Vista where we live.
He really LOVED his daddy, Stu!!! He would go outside at Venice beach & his daddy would let him off leash to run laps & he couldn't get enough of it! He would run, leap off the little grassy hill, land on the sand then jump & dig in the sand. He knew how to have fun, and his daddy was very special to him. Inside he loved to chase his ball down the stairs, leap off the last 3 stairs, and bound back up for more.
We brought him with us as many places as we could. He loved to visit local parks, make new friends and go hiking (he didn't hike too fast because he took a long time to sniff everything)! I certified him as my Service Dog, and told him he had to behave. He flew to Boston & Maine in the cabin with me. He has been to San Diego, where he accompanied us to Mister A's, a 4-Star restaurant, on Thanksgiving. Bubba also accompanied us to the seaport village in San Diego, the battleship, Coronado Brewery, Bernardo Winery ( I didn't give him any wine but I thought about it!), Barbarella, another 4 Star restaurant by the beach, the Torrey Pines gilder port & golf course. Yes, he vacationed the 4 Star high life. He deserved it. He was a Bubba.
When we learned in January that he had heart disease, we were shocked! How could Bubba be sick? It didn't make sense because he seemed so healthy & loved to play. Raphaele helped us with cardiologist appointments, and thank goodness because it was very overwhelming. He went from seeming perfectly healthy one day to requiring 5 different medications 2- 3 times per day to stay alive. It was tough because his mind wanted to run & play but his body couldn't do it anymore. Sometimes he just laid down but sometimes he fell down & couldn't get up for a few minutes.
On Saturday evening May 3rd he happily came out to dinner locally in Venice with us. He loved all his local Venice Beach hangouts! When we got home he ate all his dinner, & he ran on the beach later that night. Then on Sunday May 4, 2014, his body stopped functioning. He didn't eat or drink, his paws got cold, gums & tongue got white, & he could not stand up or walk. He was in a lot of pain, and we could not let him suffer. He told us it was time, and we had to let him go.
I know he is in heaven with his brother Popeye, Sachi, and all his fellow angels. Our world feels empty and our hearts ache without him. There will never be another Bubba. Thank you Raphaele and Sachi for bringing him to our lives. We will forever miss his slobbery kisses & sniffs & shakes!
POLLY
02 /19/2014
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So this is where we part, My Friend,
And you'll run on, around the bend. Gone from sight, but not from mind, new pleasures there you'll surely find. I will go on; I'll find the strength, Life measures quality, not its length. One long embrace before you leave, Share one last look, before I grieve. There are others, that much is true, But they be they, and they aren't you. And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought, Will remember well all you've taught. Your place I'll hold, you will be missed, The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed. And as you journey to your final rest, Take with you this...I loved you best. |
R.i.P. Lady
On behalf of Larisa, it is with a very very heavy heart that I need to inform you of beautiful Lady's passing today. Larisa called me in tears late this morning, she had come back from work early to find Lady unsettled and panting for air, her gums were very white and she was struggling to get up. Lady had a history of seizures, at least that is what we were told at the shelter, and even though Larisa did not witness any seizures in the more or less three weeks she fostered her, I told her to immediately take her to the vet and find out what we were dealing with.
Larisa's vet suspected something else and upon examination and ultrasound, they find a very large tumor on her spleen. Her abdomen did not seem to have blood in it but she suspected that the cancer, due to the large size of the tumor, had probably already metastasized and the best and only solution would be to let her go with dignity and compassion. Even with the best of odds, Lady would probably not have survived a surgery, the vet felt that she was already struggling to stay with us.
Larisa is with her right now and going through what most of us go through way too often. Without Larisa, Lady would not have had 18 days of pure bliss and joy. She was abandoned by her owners, dumped at the Carson shelter and had no chance at her age of making it out alive. Enters Larisa who had just gone through another unbearable loss, Rocky, the senior she also decided to save in extremis from certain death in a Southern California shelter about 2 months ago. With Rocky, Larisa experienced the joy and the heartache of fostering a senior dog. She did not hesitate to make her home and herself available for Lady, knowing probably that her chances of adoption were slim to none.
Larisa came to Sachi two years ago when she adopted a joyous little guy named Dexter as a companion to her Chloe. The two of them are a match made in boxer heaven and like their mom have played a huge part in welcoming Rocky and now Lady into their little paradise. Larisa, Chloe and Dexter have made both Rocky and Lady's last few weeks on earth the best they probably ever had.
Please keep Larisa in your thoughts as she is once again going through an unbearable loss. To those of us who have fostered seniors, I want to reiterate how important and crucial your contribution is. No matter how long you have them, you can never ever doubt you are doing the most amazing selfless thing for them, you give them the gift of love, life and hope.
Larisa, your Sachi family is with you in this difficult time and cannot thank you enough for your incredible spirit and devotion. We love you.
Raphaele
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Larisa's vet suspected something else and upon examination and ultrasound, they find a very large tumor on her spleen. Her abdomen did not seem to have blood in it but she suspected that the cancer, due to the large size of the tumor, had probably already metastasized and the best and only solution would be to let her go with dignity and compassion. Even with the best of odds, Lady would probably not have survived a surgery, the vet felt that she was already struggling to stay with us.
Larisa is with her right now and going through what most of us go through way too often. Without Larisa, Lady would not have had 18 days of pure bliss and joy. She was abandoned by her owners, dumped at the Carson shelter and had no chance at her age of making it out alive. Enters Larisa who had just gone through another unbearable loss, Rocky, the senior she also decided to save in extremis from certain death in a Southern California shelter about 2 months ago. With Rocky, Larisa experienced the joy and the heartache of fostering a senior dog. She did not hesitate to make her home and herself available for Lady, knowing probably that her chances of adoption were slim to none.
Larisa came to Sachi two years ago when she adopted a joyous little guy named Dexter as a companion to her Chloe. The two of them are a match made in boxer heaven and like their mom have played a huge part in welcoming Rocky and now Lady into their little paradise. Larisa, Chloe and Dexter have made both Rocky and Lady's last few weeks on earth the best they probably ever had.
Please keep Larisa in your thoughts as she is once again going through an unbearable loss. To those of us who have fostered seniors, I want to reiterate how important and crucial your contribution is. No matter how long you have them, you can never ever doubt you are doing the most amazing selfless thing for them, you give them the gift of love, life and hope.
Larisa, your Sachi family is with you in this difficult time and cannot thank you enough for your incredible spirit and devotion. We love you.
Raphaele
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FREDDIE JACK STULTZ
Three years old. Died April 3rd, 2013.
The love of my life. Those super soft ears, cheeks, fur. Softer than any boxer I ever net. His amazing wiggle butt. His bringing "presents" every time you arrived; a shoe, a piece of trash, a hair brush, anything he could find. His intensity when he kissed you and gave you a bath by putting his feet on your shoulders and methodically licking every square inch of you face, ears, neck. His fierce protection of the house. His love for his fur sister Jolene. His joy at chasing the cats and jumping up and down on their bed when they are in it, but never, ever, hurting them. I can't tell you how much I will miss him. And i will remember the good times; when he could run with effortless speed and sail through the air. (He was so much faster than his sister and graceful.)
Thank you Sachi Animal Rescue for letting us be a part of his life.
The love of my life. Those super soft ears, cheeks, fur. Softer than any boxer I ever net. His amazing wiggle butt. His bringing "presents" every time you arrived; a shoe, a piece of trash, a hair brush, anything he could find. His intensity when he kissed you and gave you a bath by putting his feet on your shoulders and methodically licking every square inch of you face, ears, neck. His fierce protection of the house. His love for his fur sister Jolene. His joy at chasing the cats and jumping up and down on their bed when they are in it, but never, ever, hurting them. I can't tell you how much I will miss him. And i will remember the good times; when he could run with effortless speed and sail through the air. (He was so much faster than his sister and graceful.)
Thank you Sachi Animal Rescue for letting us be a part of his life.
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R.I.P. little Sasha(by her family):
I am sorry that it has taken so long to send you an email. We are very sad to tell you that our Sasha is no longer with us. She became sick very suddenly in February and we had to make the decision to let her go. The vet said it was her heart and it affected her brain. I think she had a stroke. She was fine one minute, then struggling to breath the next. Sasha was such a great dog, she was happy, loved to cuddle and get and give kisses. Max and Sasha exceeded our expectations adopting seniors. They were so grateful for everything we could give them. I was so worried about Max after Sasha was gone, but, Max has done really well. He is still a happy boxer and loves getting all the attention now. It has been hard not to have Sasha around, she was the energetic one and always guided Max, especially on our walking adventures. He still loves to go for walks, but, his favorite thing to do is lay in the sun on the deck. Dan is working from home right now, so, Max has a new buddy to hang around with all day. Dan and I are grateful for the time we had with Sasha, she was very special. Thank you for everything you do to help these special babies! JOANNE, DAN and MAX |
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GOOD BYE OLD FRIEND - CHEVY
Goodbye Old Friend
We so very sadly lost Chevy to cancer on March 3, 2013. His cancer must have been brewing unseen for some time, but when it erupted in mid-February and was confirmed by imaging and biopsy, it was already too late. What we lost on March 3rd was not just a dog and pet, but a loving friend, a family member, and a companion who changed our lives. He was a true original.
We shared our first tribute to Chevy with SAR back in June 2010 while he was still very much alive. It was also a tribute to the wonderful people who helped us understand and recognize his potential for becoming a great friend. After we first got him home and worked through the issues from his past we watched a defeated dog transform into a vital and thriving personality. He was quiet, patient, and low-key on the outside, which belied the power of his personality and the purity of his heart. Underneath he was joyous and goofy and just the sweetest dog imaginable. He loved long walks and riding in the car, but his absolutely favorite thing without a doubt was passing out in sun on the back deck. He would wait until the sun hit the ground in the morning and move his way across the patio right along with it. It was his time to be a happy dog, and he wasn’t going to waste any of it in the shade. He was all heart and 100% authentic.
The significance of his loss hit me* the next morning when I got up to walk his sister Hailey and saw her pause and look back for him as we reached the front door. It was like a bolt of lightning, and I spent the morning walk around our neighborhood weeping uncontrollably. As we walked, the gap opened by his loss grew wide before my tear-filled eyes as I realized that I would never again see him rip through the house at a full run toward the front door, dance his joyous and silly wiggle dance like only he could, jump with joy when Ken came home from work at the end of the day, hear his distinctive tiptoe patter on the hardwood floor as he patrolled our home in the night, or look up to see him watching me from the upper deck in the backyard just waiting for me to put down that cigar (oh, how he hated the smell!) so he could run over and try to climb onto my lap. And he just loved to push his big fat head and face into my clothes and breathe and sigh heavily while his body trembled with what I liked to believe was a sense of comfort and love as I scratched his ears and back. To never again be able to look into his deep brown eyes and see his love and devotion shine back at me and feel the vibrant connection that had grown up between us. All of these mundane yet wonderful experiences lost to the past so quickly.
We now realize that during his time with us Chevy had worked his way into our hearts by giving himself up to us completely, and that we had unconsciously responded to his gesture by doing the same for him. He was the stealth fighter model of boxer, the kind that sneaks in below the radar, and so thoroughly captures your heart leaving you done for without even knowing it. The penetrating pain we feel at his loss has revealed the outlines of our deep love for him and how important he had become to us.
Not all pet experiences are the same, nor should that be the expectation; but there are those exceptional few that rise above the others, and transcend into a bond of great significance. Chevy came to us a diamond in the rough, and we (along with the help of so many wonderful people) brought him to a place where he could shine; and shine he did. We faced his challenges together and shared in the hard-won victories, and so in this fashion Chevy attained an exceptional stature in our hearts. It was a great privilege and gift to have shared our time together. Through these shared experiences he made us better human beings in return, and that’s not a claim even many of us can make for ourselves. That’s how special Chevy was, and why we will never, ever, forget this very wonderful boxer boy.
Joe Coppola and Ken Nguyen
March 2013
We so very sadly lost Chevy to cancer on March 3, 2013. His cancer must have been brewing unseen for some time, but when it erupted in mid-February and was confirmed by imaging and biopsy, it was already too late. What we lost on March 3rd was not just a dog and pet, but a loving friend, a family member, and a companion who changed our lives. He was a true original.
We shared our first tribute to Chevy with SAR back in June 2010 while he was still very much alive. It was also a tribute to the wonderful people who helped us understand and recognize his potential for becoming a great friend. After we first got him home and worked through the issues from his past we watched a defeated dog transform into a vital and thriving personality. He was quiet, patient, and low-key on the outside, which belied the power of his personality and the purity of his heart. Underneath he was joyous and goofy and just the sweetest dog imaginable. He loved long walks and riding in the car, but his absolutely favorite thing without a doubt was passing out in sun on the back deck. He would wait until the sun hit the ground in the morning and move his way across the patio right along with it. It was his time to be a happy dog, and he wasn’t going to waste any of it in the shade. He was all heart and 100% authentic.
The significance of his loss hit me* the next morning when I got up to walk his sister Hailey and saw her pause and look back for him as we reached the front door. It was like a bolt of lightning, and I spent the morning walk around our neighborhood weeping uncontrollably. As we walked, the gap opened by his loss grew wide before my tear-filled eyes as I realized that I would never again see him rip through the house at a full run toward the front door, dance his joyous and silly wiggle dance like only he could, jump with joy when Ken came home from work at the end of the day, hear his distinctive tiptoe patter on the hardwood floor as he patrolled our home in the night, or look up to see him watching me from the upper deck in the backyard just waiting for me to put down that cigar (oh, how he hated the smell!) so he could run over and try to climb onto my lap. And he just loved to push his big fat head and face into my clothes and breathe and sigh heavily while his body trembled with what I liked to believe was a sense of comfort and love as I scratched his ears and back. To never again be able to look into his deep brown eyes and see his love and devotion shine back at me and feel the vibrant connection that had grown up between us. All of these mundane yet wonderful experiences lost to the past so quickly.
We now realize that during his time with us Chevy had worked his way into our hearts by giving himself up to us completely, and that we had unconsciously responded to his gesture by doing the same for him. He was the stealth fighter model of boxer, the kind that sneaks in below the radar, and so thoroughly captures your heart leaving you done for without even knowing it. The penetrating pain we feel at his loss has revealed the outlines of our deep love for him and how important he had become to us.
Not all pet experiences are the same, nor should that be the expectation; but there are those exceptional few that rise above the others, and transcend into a bond of great significance. Chevy came to us a diamond in the rough, and we (along with the help of so many wonderful people) brought him to a place where he could shine; and shine he did. We faced his challenges together and shared in the hard-won victories, and so in this fashion Chevy attained an exceptional stature in our hearts. It was a great privilege and gift to have shared our time together. Through these shared experiences he made us better human beings in return, and that’s not a claim even many of us can make for ourselves. That’s how special Chevy was, and why we will never, ever, forget this very wonderful boxer boy.
Joe Coppola and Ken Nguyen
March 2013
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HERSHEY / CHINOChino. He came to us as a foster from an urgent call from Rafa: "Dan, I need you to take this medical. I know I can trust you to give him his medicine and look after him well. It will be temporary, I promise. I know we just placed JJ and you wanted a break before we asked you to foster again, but this is a medical emergency and I need your help. Will you do it?" Of course we took him. He came in as "Hershey", but that quickly changed to "Chino". Have you ever seen West Side Story? This dog's face just reminded me of Chino from the movie. Our Chino didn't have all the "mambo" dance moves, but Oye!, we all fell in love so fast.
He came to us with cancer in his eye and within the month the eye was gone. The vet stated that this type of cancer usually does not spread, but to give it three months or so to really have a better idea. We just thought, "Okay, Chino will just have to be a pirate for Halloween", and went about our regular life. Well, several months came and went, and everything was fine...or so it seemed. One day he just started acting funny and we started to make a list about everything that seemed "off" with our Chino. At first I kept the list in my head and then I decided to start writing it down. The list got very long as the days passed, so we took him to the vet and everything on the list except one symptom pointed to just some sort of normal gastric upset. We took him home, and that night it got much worse. The next morning was dramatically startling, so I just took him to Dr Galea. The cancer had indeed spread and had gone into his brain. He was gently put to rest. We don't remember him the way he was in those final days. We remember him for all the joy he brought to the house and the strange way he gave kisses. These were not regular sloppy, Boxer kisses. They were ever so soft and gentlemanly, as if a humming bird were landing on your hand for a moment. It was all joy having Chino. 
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CALEB
By Lisa, Caleb foster mom:
There is a saying in life that what some people think is trash others deem as treasure. In the early part of May some person as many others do threw away their trash in the form of a very beautiful boxer dog
that SAR (Sachi Animal Rescue) named CALEB. Not to the owners understanding I suppose, this wonderful dog had many gifts to give. He touched the hearts of humans and animals alike. He was loving and regal. Within his presence there was a feeling of magic. You could feel it. Unfortunately in this life many are born with issues, issues that can be worked with if you have the love in your heart and the patience to help heal. Unlike where he came from. Caleb found himself in the death camp of our sick society not knowing his fate or understanding of why he was thrown there by his owners. When you take an animal and bring them into your home you make a commitment to love them like your own child but the majority of mankind think of their animals as disposable. SAR knows the love and dedication it takes to bail those kinds of dogs that can never be cured but can be helped to maintain a quality of life that their
owners were not willing to give them. It is far too easy for many people to dispose of their pet to the nearest death camp called the animal shelter. Caleb the magical dog was one of the blessed dogs to be taken out of the shelter before he was destroyed by lethal injection. The horror, fear and pain they experience is beyond
comprehension. The death they smell in the shelter and the dogs that go one by one out of the cages never to return. You think they do not know you say, oh they are just dogs or cats. Well you are wrong they
do know. I have to tell you that this throw away dog gave unconditional love. Not something his owner ever understood because obviously their love was quantified., conditional and lacked dedication.
In five short weeks Caleb touched so many in ways not many humans would understand. He showed what true love is to all of SAR, the children that circled around him. A 90 yr old woman and a family of humans and other animals alike. He in return felt love and dedication I am sure he never felt before. You see he ate breakfast with this old woman and gave her joy. He slept next to the teenagers bed on the floor all night. He put his head in my husbands lap when he was not well. He went for walks around the property with me to feed the horses, chicken and goats. Some he had never seen before. He barked at the turtles when they moved. Well, it was a walking bone but yet he never touched them. He stopped at the chicken coop, I think he thought he needed to make friends. And the horses were a whole different story. He went nose to nose
with the youngest one as if to say, what are you? Are you for real, are you my friend? All this as the horse licked his nose. He played with the female golden retriever that we call Lilly the tramp. He laid down with the Dane. When Caleb experienced seizures and distress the Dane would straddle herself across him to try to get him to stop shaking. As sick as Caleb was and could not get up for a long time after those bouts, the tramp would go dig up bones and bring them back to lay them in front of him. Where were his previous owners for this time in his life that was so hard on him? Oh I forgot it is the throw away society that think nothing of disposing of him since he takes money, time and patience to help heal. They leave it for the next guy so they can relieve themselves of a burden... Off to play with another, maybe a puppy so in 5 yrs they can throw it away again just because maybe they think it is getting too old. It was so obvious that this
loving dog was thrown in a back yard with not much of life's exposure. Caleb was a precious life that touched so many and when he died of a brain tumor we who loved him and valued him were by his side to let him know that he was not trash in our throw away society. Caleb, our dear Boxer boy, we love you now and loved you then. You were our treasure not our trash. Run and play in heaven and may God place his loving hand on you and make you whole. We miss you. You touched our hearts and gave us joy for the short time we were able to love you. May more people understand that their pets value them more than they allow themselves to value their pets.
Love,
Your Sachi family and your foster mom.
There is a saying in life that what some people think is trash others deem as treasure. In the early part of May some person as many others do threw away their trash in the form of a very beautiful boxer dog
that SAR (Sachi Animal Rescue) named CALEB. Not to the owners understanding I suppose, this wonderful dog had many gifts to give. He touched the hearts of humans and animals alike. He was loving and regal. Within his presence there was a feeling of magic. You could feel it. Unfortunately in this life many are born with issues, issues that can be worked with if you have the love in your heart and the patience to help heal. Unlike where he came from. Caleb found himself in the death camp of our sick society not knowing his fate or understanding of why he was thrown there by his owners. When you take an animal and bring them into your home you make a commitment to love them like your own child but the majority of mankind think of their animals as disposable. SAR knows the love and dedication it takes to bail those kinds of dogs that can never be cured but can be helped to maintain a quality of life that their
owners were not willing to give them. It is far too easy for many people to dispose of their pet to the nearest death camp called the animal shelter. Caleb the magical dog was one of the blessed dogs to be taken out of the shelter before he was destroyed by lethal injection. The horror, fear and pain they experience is beyond
comprehension. The death they smell in the shelter and the dogs that go one by one out of the cages never to return. You think they do not know you say, oh they are just dogs or cats. Well you are wrong they
do know. I have to tell you that this throw away dog gave unconditional love. Not something his owner ever understood because obviously their love was quantified., conditional and lacked dedication.
In five short weeks Caleb touched so many in ways not many humans would understand. He showed what true love is to all of SAR, the children that circled around him. A 90 yr old woman and a family of humans and other animals alike. He in return felt love and dedication I am sure he never felt before. You see he ate breakfast with this old woman and gave her joy. He slept next to the teenagers bed on the floor all night. He put his head in my husbands lap when he was not well. He went for walks around the property with me to feed the horses, chicken and goats. Some he had never seen before. He barked at the turtles when they moved. Well, it was a walking bone but yet he never touched them. He stopped at the chicken coop, I think he thought he needed to make friends. And the horses were a whole different story. He went nose to nose
with the youngest one as if to say, what are you? Are you for real, are you my friend? All this as the horse licked his nose. He played with the female golden retriever that we call Lilly the tramp. He laid down with the Dane. When Caleb experienced seizures and distress the Dane would straddle herself across him to try to get him to stop shaking. As sick as Caleb was and could not get up for a long time after those bouts, the tramp would go dig up bones and bring them back to lay them in front of him. Where were his previous owners for this time in his life that was so hard on him? Oh I forgot it is the throw away society that think nothing of disposing of him since he takes money, time and patience to help heal. They leave it for the next guy so they can relieve themselves of a burden... Off to play with another, maybe a puppy so in 5 yrs they can throw it away again just because maybe they think it is getting too old. It was so obvious that this
loving dog was thrown in a back yard with not much of life's exposure. Caleb was a precious life that touched so many and when he died of a brain tumor we who loved him and valued him were by his side to let him know that he was not trash in our throw away society. Caleb, our dear Boxer boy, we love you now and loved you then. You were our treasure not our trash. Run and play in heaven and may God place his loving hand on you and make you whole. We miss you. You touched our hearts and gave us joy for the short time we were able to love you. May more people understand that their pets value them more than they allow themselves to value their pets.
Love,
Your Sachi family and your foster mom.
MERLIN
(by Raphaele): Merlin was an alumni from the ranch. He made it there for training after spending way too much time kennelized in a rescue I was volunteering for at the time. In 2008, Scott and his family came to said rescue to try to match their female shepherd with a boxer. The environment there was definitely not conducive to that and they left empty ended, being told their female would never accept another dog (never mind that she had lived with another dog prior!). After much convincing from Jan W and myself they decided to give it another chance and came to the ranch to see if some of our wonderful trained boys could work. I will always remember Scott getting out of his car with his dog and telling me right away that this would not work. I took his dog and told him to stay back while Carlos the trainer brought out Merlin. Within seconds we knew this would work and they would be a glorious pair. I turned to Scott who was on the phone with his wife and taking pictures, telling her "this is unbelievable!" They adopted Merlin in 2008. Within a few months the family moved to Dallas, TX, and I would get periodically news of how well and what a wonderful dog Merlin was. A few months ago, Scott called me to let me know Merlin was having seizures, he progressively got worse, lost his sight and energy. 2 days ago they made the sorrowful decision to let him go in peace. I spoke to a devastated Scott yesterday who misses his boy very much. Through Merlin, they discovered what an incredible breed boxers are and I know that in the future they will give another rescue boxer an incredible second chance at life. This will be Merlin's legacy, he will be missed by his immediate family as well as all the people whom he encountered and touched. Run free Merlin, Sachi is waiting for you.
OLIVER/SWEET PIG(by his family):
It is with great sadness that I am writing this email.
2 years ago nearly to the date we adopted Oliver from sachi. We welcomed him in with joy and love, and he quickly won the hearts of our family, including our cat Elwood. We renamed him "Sweet Pig" because of his snorty breathing. Last week he began leaving food in his bowl and then refusing full meals. I took him to the vet and they ran tests and told me his kidneys were failing. We put him on a special diet and medications, but I could tell he was not his usual self, and he died yesterday 5-16-2012. Our house is sad and silent. When I go into the backyard I see his tennis balls around and I am overcome with tears. I want to thank sachi for giving us such a great dog, and even though his time with us was short, the impact he had on our lives was immense. |
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HOLLY (loved til the end by the Lang family)
Our Holly was a sweet and loving dog. It took us all of 2 days to fall in love with her and before long we felt as if she'd been in our family for a long time. She was incredibly gentle with my kids, had great manners, and we received compliments wherever we went on her behavior and striking appearance. She had even been chosen to model for a designer dog collar line next month for which she would have been perfect.
After only 5 short weeks we lost Holly to bloat, but not before she changed all of us for the better. She and my son bonded very quickly and I loved seeing their connection. I discovered that I was a dog person. Her gentleness helped me to get over being shy around dogs after being attacked by a German Shepperd the previous year. And my youngest one had stopped being spooked out by dogs.
Perhaps one of the biggest gifts she gave us was getting our family out together on afternoon walks with her. We all enjoyed it. What I will miss most is her goofy side -- that 'kidney bean' curl that she did when she got excited about going outside or when we played with her. She definitely filled a void that we didn't know we had until she came into our lives. - the Lang Family
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After only 5 short weeks we lost Holly to bloat, but not before she changed all of us for the better. She and my son bonded very quickly and I loved seeing their connection. I discovered that I was a dog person. Her gentleness helped me to get over being shy around dogs after being attacked by a German Shepperd the previous year. And my youngest one had stopped being spooked out by dogs.
Perhaps one of the biggest gifts she gave us was getting our family out together on afternoon walks with her. We all enjoyed it. What I will miss most is her goofy side -- that 'kidney bean' curl that she did when she got excited about going outside or when we played with her. She definitely filled a void that we didn't know we had until she came into our lives. - the Lang Family
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Two little angels
At Sachi Animal Rescue, we are a family and our pups mean everything to us, whether they are in our care temporarily or permanently. We also believe in honesty and full disclosure as to the status of our orphans. Most of the time we share with you, our loyal supporters and friends the happy news of a dog embarking on a new journey and a new life with a loving family. Today is not that day. It is with a very heavy heart that I need to announce the passing of two of our little angels, Lola and Brooklyn, 2 little girls who touched our lives in a way that only these amazing dogs can..
Lola was rescued from the Castaic shelter, she was there for a very long time by county standards and I could not let her die there. I kept coming back to her picture circulated on FACEBOOK and was hoping against all odds that someone would see in her what I could sense from just her picture. Of course no one claimed her and I decided to go and pull her even though we were at full capacity at our boarding facility. She was grateful and happy, afraid of men but would warm up really fast once you showed her the affection she so craved and deserved. Last friday I went to pick her up, along with 3 other girls who were embarking on their special journey up north to a new life. She had two potential, fantastic homes who were waiting impatiently to meet her. On my way back home, before the long trip, Lola and Miss Lady started acting up and fighting through the crate where Lady was.
Lola had a leash on but was loose in the dogmobile, along with Cindy. Grace was riding shotgun and secured on the front seat. I had to pull over on a major thoroughfare in order to separate them and not have the fight escalate with the other two girls jumping in. As I opened the back door, both Cindy and Lola bolted out, I was able to grab Cindy's leash immediately and fell Lola's leash slip through my fingers. She ended up in the middle of the highway, looking at me, it was night and very dark and there were no cars around at that moment.
I tried to entice her to come back to me as I was trying to quickly put Cindy back in the car. What happened next is almost a blur, it went so fast, I remember hearing a car barreling down at full speed and I ran towards the middle of the highway waving and screaming, hoping to get the driver's attention to at least slow down. I was 12 years old when my first boxer Mirabelle was run over by a car in front of me and died in my arms within seconds. I had not thought about this for so long, yet in a matter of seconds it came flooding back through my mind as I watched helplessly the unthinkable happen. After the impact, I frantically looked for Lola and found her on the side of the road about 50 yards away. I held her until she took her last breath, she passed away within seconds. The guilt and pain i am feeling will be with me for a very long time, I failed miserably in my attempt to protect her. I will be haunted by this night forever. Lola died on her way to a new life, full of potential and adventures. Her ashes are now with me, along the many pets who have shared my life over the years.
Brooklyn was pulled out of The Orange County shelter, her back end was pretty much paralyzed, both back legs muscles and spine terribly atrophied. She was a trooper though with an unmatched will to live and move despite her handicap. We ran every test imaginable in order to figure out the cause of her condition, CT scans, spinal tap, X-rays, blood panels, and on and on. Both vets were puzzled by her condition and could not give me a clear diagnosis, brain tumor was ruled out and the only thing left was some kind of weird neurological disease. Once it was determined her condition was not infectious she was put on prednisone and improved slightly in her mobility for a couple weeks. She started eating with gusto her home cooked meals and gave the best kisses only a boxer can give, and then she went downhill, suddenly and rapidly. Yesterday she started throwing up and refused to eat. I immediately rushed her to Dr Gales who recommended ending her suffering, he thought her physical appearance looked drastically worse. She had become incontinent and I had to express her bladder every few hours. Being the stubborn one and not wanting to give up just yet, I made an appointment with a neurologist today: it was not meant to be. Brooklyn passed away at about 12: 45 this morning on her little bed, in what had become her home here with me. She was loved and she will be forever in my heart. She was a fighter, such determination, courage and willpower. She was a lover and a kisser, she had the most expressive brown eyes and the cutest turned up nose. I will miss her terribly. Her journey was not what it should have been, yet I have no regrets for bringing her home with me and having shared this precious short time with her.
People say everything happens for a reason, I just cannot quite grasp what these two tragic losses are supposed to mean, and why we are left here with such pain and emptiness. I don't know why Lola's promising life was cut short so tragically and I don't understand why a sweet young Brooklynhad to go through such horrendous pain. What I do know is that I will not waiver in my determination and will to continue helping as many discarded shelter dogs as possible.
I also would like to thank Lynda Hill for being Lola's guardian angel and best advocate and Brooklyn's godfather, Paul Smith, for being who he is. I am so, so sorry for these sad news.
Raphaele
Lola was rescued from the Castaic shelter, she was there for a very long time by county standards and I could not let her die there. I kept coming back to her picture circulated on FACEBOOK and was hoping against all odds that someone would see in her what I could sense from just her picture. Of course no one claimed her and I decided to go and pull her even though we were at full capacity at our boarding facility. She was grateful and happy, afraid of men but would warm up really fast once you showed her the affection she so craved and deserved. Last friday I went to pick her up, along with 3 other girls who were embarking on their special journey up north to a new life. She had two potential, fantastic homes who were waiting impatiently to meet her. On my way back home, before the long trip, Lola and Miss Lady started acting up and fighting through the crate where Lady was.
Lola had a leash on but was loose in the dogmobile, along with Cindy. Grace was riding shotgun and secured on the front seat. I had to pull over on a major thoroughfare in order to separate them and not have the fight escalate with the other two girls jumping in. As I opened the back door, both Cindy and Lola bolted out, I was able to grab Cindy's leash immediately and fell Lola's leash slip through my fingers. She ended up in the middle of the highway, looking at me, it was night and very dark and there were no cars around at that moment.
I tried to entice her to come back to me as I was trying to quickly put Cindy back in the car. What happened next is almost a blur, it went so fast, I remember hearing a car barreling down at full speed and I ran towards the middle of the highway waving and screaming, hoping to get the driver's attention to at least slow down. I was 12 years old when my first boxer Mirabelle was run over by a car in front of me and died in my arms within seconds. I had not thought about this for so long, yet in a matter of seconds it came flooding back through my mind as I watched helplessly the unthinkable happen. After the impact, I frantically looked for Lola and found her on the side of the road about 50 yards away. I held her until she took her last breath, she passed away within seconds. The guilt and pain i am feeling will be with me for a very long time, I failed miserably in my attempt to protect her. I will be haunted by this night forever. Lola died on her way to a new life, full of potential and adventures. Her ashes are now with me, along the many pets who have shared my life over the years.
Brooklyn was pulled out of The Orange County shelter, her back end was pretty much paralyzed, both back legs muscles and spine terribly atrophied. She was a trooper though with an unmatched will to live and move despite her handicap. We ran every test imaginable in order to figure out the cause of her condition, CT scans, spinal tap, X-rays, blood panels, and on and on. Both vets were puzzled by her condition and could not give me a clear diagnosis, brain tumor was ruled out and the only thing left was some kind of weird neurological disease. Once it was determined her condition was not infectious she was put on prednisone and improved slightly in her mobility for a couple weeks. She started eating with gusto her home cooked meals and gave the best kisses only a boxer can give, and then she went downhill, suddenly and rapidly. Yesterday she started throwing up and refused to eat. I immediately rushed her to Dr Gales who recommended ending her suffering, he thought her physical appearance looked drastically worse. She had become incontinent and I had to express her bladder every few hours. Being the stubborn one and not wanting to give up just yet, I made an appointment with a neurologist today: it was not meant to be. Brooklyn passed away at about 12: 45 this morning on her little bed, in what had become her home here with me. She was loved and she will be forever in my heart. She was a fighter, such determination, courage and willpower. She was a lover and a kisser, she had the most expressive brown eyes and the cutest turned up nose. I will miss her terribly. Her journey was not what it should have been, yet I have no regrets for bringing her home with me and having shared this precious short time with her.
People say everything happens for a reason, I just cannot quite grasp what these two tragic losses are supposed to mean, and why we are left here with such pain and emptiness. I don't know why Lola's promising life was cut short so tragically and I don't understand why a sweet young Brooklynhad to go through such horrendous pain. What I do know is that I will not waiver in my determination and will to continue helping as many discarded shelter dogs as possible.
I also would like to thank Lynda Hill for being Lola's guardian angel and best advocate and Brooklyn's godfather, Paul Smith, for being who he is. I am so, so sorry for these sad news.
Raphaele
Good-bye letter from ALEX to his foster mommy
"Dear Mamma Martina, I was a lucky boy, I was a happy boy. My life began with you and ended in your arms. I don't want you to feel pain or guilt over our little "misunderstandings" . I wasn't always the easiest doggie to handle, I know that. But everything I did, I did it for you. Even my separation anxieties were testament to my love for you. You see, I couldn't stand being away from you so when you disappeared from my sight, I panicked. I know it brought a lot of stress to your life but I simply couldn't help myself. The sun rose and set around you and that was it. Without you I would have been another lost soul, long forgotten in a dreadful kennel where some nut jobs convince themselves that this is the best a dog like me will ever get. I was once a proud, healthy, handsome pup who could have been the joy of any family, But this wasn't meant to be for me. I guess everyone has to "pay their dues", mine just were steeper than some. In the end it was all worth it though because of you. I remember the days when you would come up to the kennel and take me for walks or long hikes. I knew then what you didn't, that one day I would wiggle my way into your home. I had already conquered your heart, I knew that, even if you refused to acknowledge it. But bringing in another pup into your already crowded household required more than just dedication, it demanded a burning passion and selflessness that few people are able to demonstrate, and in my special case, endure. So what, I made you eat your dinner in your car occasionally in order for you to have peace and quiet. Well look on the bright side, these are memories you will have forever. Not every pup is capable of driving their human to the brink of hopelessness with such gusto. I was one of a kind and we both knew that. You stuck by me when no one else did, through the bad and the not so bad. Hey, will you ever have another cuddle bug like me endure quietly and selflessly a Grey's Anatomy marathon by your side? I provided you comic relief when you least expected it and let's face it, you knew I had your back and more on all our outings. I was fiercely protective of you and would have given my life for you any day. Lola, Bobby and the rest of the lunatics, you are now in charge of my special girl, that goes for you too Gene! (get that kitchen set up pronto!) My Mamma Martina needs her little haven. I leave this world a better soul for knowing you and I will be waiting when your time comes, alongside Petey, Hurley, Tonka, Mitch and all the souls you have touched and rescued over so many years. Just don't hurry quite yet, you got more work to do down here. I am a lucky boy, I am a happy boy thanks to you Mamma Martina.
ALEX
ALEX
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WILLY
When he was finally freed from a 6-yr confinement, he had less than 2 years to catch up. Willy was loved, he was given medical care and the freedom to come and go. The couch became his favorite spot and he loved being outside in the sun. Willy slept in every day and was spoiled rotten. Five month earlier he lost one of his brothers, Lennon, and his favorite sister Maggie. His best friend in the whole world Teddy will also be waiting for him at the famous rainbowbridge.
SAMMY
Sachi Animal Rescue was so happy for Sammy when Amy & Scott opened their hearts and home for our little Samurai SAMMY. After being in his loving home for only a few months, an aggressive brain tumor took his life.
For more on Sammy, click: http://www.sachianimalrescue.com/sammy.html
TEDDIE
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In May 2006 a local rescue took in Teddie. He showed some unwanted behavior but was otherwise a very pleasant and socialized dog. Unfortunately when it came to introducing him to a potential adopter, Teddie showed his “bad-boy side”, snapping at a stranger, preferably in the face.
He was moved to another, smaller kennel where a handful of volunteers handled him multiple times a week. Teddie was great with other dogs and loved the volunteers that took care of him. Fast forward two years: Sachi Animal Rescue started the program that helped rescue dogs with behavioral problems. Dogs just like Teddie were re-programmed in a healthy environment without kennels. They finally received professional help and were ready for adoption within a few weeks to a few months. Meanwhile Teddie stayed at that rescue and kept showing badly when adoption day arrived while SAR adopted more than 50 challenged dogs into permanent loving homes. SAR offered to take on Teddie but the rescue refused saying their team of trainers would handle/rehabilitate Teddie, within the confinement of their own kennel, apparently oblivious to the fact that the "kennel" part was precisely part of the problem. Fast forward yet another two years: Teddie was still at that rescue and according to the trainers, tried to snap at a potential adopter just three months prior. Obviously their training did not work for Teddie and he was at that point condemned to stay there for the rest of his life. One of Sachi Animal Rescue volunteers, also a former volunteer from Teddie’s rescue, stayed in contact with the trainers, asking to take Teddie home for a few days here and there to show him some love and a life he was otherwise deprived off. The requests were ignored and Teddie stayed at that rescue. At the end of April 2010 Teddie became sick and by mid May it became clear that Teddie would only live a few more days. At that point, Teddie was finally allowed to leave his life in captivity and went home to the SAR volunteer. For only 30 hours Teddie experienced a life without bars with all the perks a loving home can offer a dog. |
            All of us at Sachi Animal Rescue are deeply saddened that Teddie was never allowed the chance to experience a life without bars, roaming around with other dogs for hours & every day and eventually finding his forever home. This is what Sachi Animal Rescue was willing to provide Teddie, and countless others still enduring his fate. |
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ATTICUS
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After a month of battling cancer, we let our precious Atticus go to heaven.
For the past 10 years, Atticus has been so much more than just a dog, he has been an integral part of the family. He has been a joyous source of laughter, a comical source of entertainment, a reliable source of support. This guy had personality. Strangers all over LA have pictures of Atticus on their cell phones…photos from the vet office waiting room - where he wouldn’t hesitate to climb up the benches to sit on strangers’ laps; all 90 pounds of him. Photos from our walks – where people on the street stared in disbelief at how well-behaved he was off-leash, and how he sat at every sidewalk crossing and looked up at us, waiting for permission to cross the street. Photos from inside restaurants, bars, and shops - where he would be invited in by the store owners who laughingly knew him as the “West Hollywood Goodwill Ambassador.” Some strangers were afraid of the big, ominous looking beast, but he’d wag his tail, lean in for a cuddle, and give kisses to them, their dog or their child, instantly reassuring them. Even friends who were once scared of dogs couldn’t resist his charm, and would make a point to stop by whenever they could to visit him. Atticus was always a gentle soul. He would bring lizards inside, but not to hurt them, just to let them go and explore his house. He would protect and guide Francie when she got older, never taking his eyes off of her. He was always there for us, a fixture in the background, patiently waiting to give or receive love. He was also a brave soul – from warding off coyotes from attacking a baby (true story) to rescuing Francie when she got lost in the woods. Every ounce of his being was kind and loving. During his last days, he would get noticeably upset if we cried about his illness. He taught us to try and be positive, no matter how bad things were. His whole life, Atticus always had a “smile,” even on his last day. And even though he was uncomfortable and at times in pain, that didn’t stop him from following me around the house, checking to make sure where I was, and if I was okay. He was an inspiration for how to live life – as a series of good times - with lots of dancing and wiggling, lots of cuddling, lots of sass, and lots of love. Party on Atticus. We know you’re up there frolicking with Francie……but we are sure missing you both down here. |
When I first met Atticus, he sassed me non-stop. Little did he or I realize what special “mates” we would become. When Jourdan and I first started dating, Atticus’ leg had just recently healed from an operation. The 4 of us (including the very special Frances) went on a hike. The trail ended at a set of about 350 stairs. We realized that after about 20 stairs, Atticus was not happy. So I carried my new 90 pound mate to the top of the stairs, who trusted me completely. Whenever we stopped to rest, he would lean into me for support.
Needless to say, a bond was formed that would never break. Atticus became my best mate in my new home country and I will be eternally grateful that such a perfect spirit and truly wonderful soul let me be his mate. Atticus helped Jourdan and I get through the loss of Francie, though the loss of his big sister must have hurt him deeply. He even forgave us for filling our home with 11 foster dogs over the ensuing months, which included the “death of a thousand nibbles” he endured as Uncle Atticus to 4 little puppies. I have known many dogs, both in Australia and in America, and I can truly say I have never met a more “human” dog. I have never been so affected by the loss of an animal, but am so grateful to have had him in my life. Rest in piece my big, beautiful guy (you poof). |