The house is eerily quiet without foster Millie who found a wonderful family to live with in Lake County. She is a good girl and has a sort of maltipoo brother now, who looks a lot like Bonnie. Like most people the family was surprised how small she was in real life, but she has a huge personality and she’ll be a wonderful addition to their family. Between them this family has nine grandkids that visit, so she’ll have a big yard in the country with people visiting all the time. Bonnie’s probably a little relieved because Millie often got very jealous of the attention I gave her, but I love all dogs that we take in.
Here are different perspectives of five dogs (including Bonnie, Snoopy, and fosters Marshall, Millie, and Lana) cuddling on the couch, including Marshall scratching his own nose while squeezing between Bonnie and me.
At the shelter I saw a quivering senior whose microchip says she is well over 12 years old in a crate. She was very sweet and will likely get transferred to Muttville, so I offered to take her home and give her a quieter place to rest until such time as she will hopefully be accepted there. Lana’s former guardians either didn’t want her or something happened to them. I was SHOCKED at how similar she looks to our foster Marshall. I literally would not be surprised if she is his grandmother or great-great-great-grandmother, possibly.
This is what happens when Shea doesn’t wake up on time. The troops run in to wake him up when they get the zoomies after I feed them.
I love the picture, which appears like Bonnie is looking out at the water. She’s, of course, smelling it and enjoying the light breeze. She’s so amazing off-leash. She just follows my voice and takes her time wandering around and enjoying sniffing.
Video progression of dogs readied for a walk and then the walk in nearby Glen Cove Waterfront, which is one of my favorite parts of the region, and just steps away from my home. I’m going to miss foster dog Marshall, who is among these three foster dogs and our own Snoopy and Bonnie. Marshall’s going on an adventure to be permanently adopted in the Northwest on Tuesday, thanks to a new rescue partner we encountered at HSNB!
Being careful not to show the kids, we took fosters Millie and Lana with us to Saint Dominic Catholic School in Benicia for the Saint Francis of Assisi Blessing of the Animals. Linda and I went last year with our dear friend Carlene and her Mister Wiggles. They were missed, but Millie and Lana were good ambassadors for the Humane Society of the North Bay. We’re very grateful for the school’s continued support of our local shelter here in Vallejo.
This is a very special photograph from today’s Vallejo Fest, where Shea and I tabled for a few hours on behalf of the Humane Society of the North Bay. This fireman, who was helping us sell a fundraising 2026 calendar with Vallejo Firefighters and HSNB dogs, posed with Snoopy and me. He saved Snoopy (foster dog Peaches was also brought out to me, but it might have been from another fireman) when, sadly, five of my dogs died that horrible day. He understood that I have very foggy memories of that day, which was the worst day of my life, but he was so kind to Snoopy and me today. The story is mentioned in the November 2026 picture on the calendar that they posed for.
In previous years it was called Vallejo Waterfront Weekend, but this year it’s one day.
This media for the event is also special because it has our foster Marshall on the cover!
Generally the second day (Sundays) in years past was very slow. It’s a fundraiser for many non-profits here in Vallejo.
Combined video that Shea and I took at Vallejo Fest.
Today I got to wander around the newly completed Catio myself. I would love it if the Humane Society of the North Bay regularly had a Cat Cafe set up here. We’ll look into that possibility, as I know it was discussed in the past. We will be adding more seating and encourage people to come visit this gorgeous structure that makes life at HSNB much more exciting for the homeless cats waiting to be adopted. The cats and kittens can be observed from the outside as well. There were a lot of friendly, beautiful cats there today.
A lovely couple in nearby Crockett brought their dogs over to meet our beautiful foster dog Dolly, who has been with us for several months. Dolly was extremely attached to me, so I warned them that she would be very shy and suspicious of them, but they can take her on a trial basis and will see that she’ll be very happy to be with them in due course. I’m so proud of Dolly and love her. She looks so much like my Snoopy and has some similar characteristics.
As a foster dad to dogs, it feels good to physically hand a young, healthy dog like her over to a family that will take such good care of her forever. It is very rewarding to make a space in my life so someday I can help another dog who doesn’t fare well in the shelter environment with at least a temporary place to go, especially if that dog has special needs or is senior, for example. Tomorrow is National Black Dog Day! Animals like Dolly are statistically passed over more often because of their black coats, believe it or not. People are really missing out!
While I work from home, I’ve got my canine entourage. Foster Dolly and foster Marshall playing at the top of the stairs outside the temporary office I have in the rental.
Shea took this picture of me with the pack of FIVE (look carefully) a few days ago. It’s sort of an optical illusion. The three fosters are all there with Bonnie and Snoopy.
Three fosters are Millie (a small white Maltese-Poodle mix), Marshall (a cream-colored Chihuahua), and Dolly (a black Chihuahua with a white chest). The two guest dogs are Gracie and Lucy, whom I dog-sat again. Of course, our dogs are Bonnie and Snoopy.
