Woof! Love at First Sight By Writer and Contributor NJ Jaeger
Beau’s Story
A concerned neighbor called the police to report a giant dog running around the Montemalaga School campus in the rain. The police arrived to find a big, wet and confused tri-colored dog with dense fur and a grizzly-bear-like black nose. Beau was happy to jump into their warm and dry police car for a ride to the station¾ and on that providential day his journey to his new life began.
A Nextdoor post of his picture by the police alerted the neighborhood to a big dog without tags or chip waiting at the police station to be reunited with its owner. After spending two days with the police, and two days with fire staff, the large friendly dog who had won the hearts of the firemen now needed a rescue shelter. Soon he was picked up by the local Bullies and Buddies rescue group to look for a foster or adopter.
Happily for Beau, Dave Mensinger’s business partner who was involved with the Bullies and Buddies rescue group told Dave about, “this great dog” and their search for an adopter. The Mensinger’s learned dumping large dogs like this for financial and other reasons was a known issue in the area, and that Beau was likely its latest victim. Hearing that the dog was despondent in his kennel, Barb and Dave Mensinger were soon on the way to the rescue group’s vet to meet him.
The rescuers thought the dog could possibly be a Bernese Mountain Dog a breed of canine originated in Switzerland known for their affectionate temperament. When they finally met the abandoned dog in person Barb Mensinger says, “it was a case of love at first sight!” Beau looked formidable to many, but luckily for all concerned, Beau was not unlike the large dogs Barb and Dave had loved in the past, so they knew just what was involved in bringing this giant into their home.
Barb shared, “We went to the vet to meet what we thought was a mixed breed Bernese Mountain Dog. We took him for a walk around the block and his chain kept making a jingling noise. I thought of the song Mr. Bojangles. That song title morphed into “Beau” since he is such a beautiful dog!” Barb added that “Beau’s third adoption day anniversary is coming up and we will celebrate his birthday on March 28th – a day decided on by the vet.
Beau keeps Barb and Dave active “with at least two walks a day” and surprisingly Beau’s doggy DNA test shows nine breed markers in Beau and not one of them is the Bernese Mountain Dog. Beau’s three predominant genetic kin are: Akita, Chow and Husky. For Barb and Dave, Beau’s combination of genes turned out to give them just what they had hoped for: the perfect canine recipe to complete the Mensinger family.
Frankie’s Story
On a chilly winter night a pregnant terrier mix was left in a flimsy cardboard box under the dark and dirty cacophonous 710 freeway bridge to give birth to her puppies alone.
Thankfully a Good Samaritan found this shivering, scared, pregnant dog already in active labor under that bridge and called in the rescue group Sparky and the Gang of Long Beach to shelter her. The rescue was immediately checked out by a vet and spent eight weeks nursing her surviving puppies before she was cleared for adoption with the rescue ID name, Sally.
Four years had passed since Marlene had heard the click-i-ty clack of doggy paws across her hardwood floors and she knew it was time to welcome a four-legged rescue into her heart. Six months later Marlene’s search hit upon Sally’s picture and she knew, “she was the perfect girl for me”. Marlene immediately dialed the shelter group but sadly another party had called ahead of her to adopt Sally. At the end of the disappointing conversation Marlene agreed to be a wait-listed adopter knowing it would not go anywhere.
Several weeks later Marlene received a call from the rescue group that the adopter had dropped out due to a family illness across the country. Marlene was amazed that fate had handed her heart’s desire and Sally would now be hers; she wasted no time in arranging a meet a member of the rescue team to secure Sally’s release.
Thus began a whirlwind of preparations and a few days after signing ownership documents at a nearby Starbucks a large van pulled into the driveway with a furry Christmas present inside for Marlene.
Sally was changed to Francesca and a test to discover the mystery behind her breed DNA revealed that Frankie is the ideal representation of 3-breeds: terrier, corgi and schnauzer. A small dog, Frankie surprised everyone with her big bark before they learned that a loud bark is a strong corgi trait. Adopter Marlene says, “She doesn’t bark often so we pay attention when she barks”.
Frankie patrols her yard and the bluffs against the dreaded ground squirrels and destructive gophers with trademark terrier tenacity from morning to night allowing short breaks for food, cuddles, car rides and an occasional In and Out Burger.
Frankie’s found her best life at last, and true to her breed history and keen sense of scent, she has been tirelessly chasing squirrels and gophers ever since.
Cricket’s Story
Meet Cricket a tiny bundle of tail-waving four-legged joy known by many as, “the greeter of Lunada Bay”. Observing a morning walker bending down to enjoy one of her butterfly-soft doggy smooches, an onlooker was overheard saying, “One kiss from Cricket and you’re a goner, she makes anyone’s day better.”
Weighing in at seven plus pounds Cricket resembles a fluffy white fox with an improbable fashionista tail as long as her body and perky apricot-tipped-ears enthusiastically cocked to hear the sounds of sea or the softly spoken directions of her human.
Jan, Cricket’s soon to be human, and her very reluctant husband, searched for over a year online hoping to find a young dog to rescue, and then she saw Cricket. Jan fell head over heels for her and knew immediately she had to save Cricket. Jan says “It was like love at first sight”.
Visits to meet Cricket along with multiple follow up calls to the rescue group seemed to be going nowhere but Jan remained undeterred in her quest to bring Cricket home from North Hollywood. The foster parent was very nice but Cricket was a tiny girl foster among eight other fosters and it was a crazy place. Time was passing, and finally, after a large donation Jan prevailed and Cricket was hers!
On the ride home Jan promised an excited Cricket watching the world go by from the car window that she would always take care of her, the community would love her, and that she would have a big backyard with all the delicious food she could eat.
Now you may have guessed that a dog who possessed such a sparkling personality and unsinkable spirit could eventually win over anyone - and she did! Cricket soon became the husband’s greatest delight, and he, her steadfast protector.
You can find Cricket accompanied by one of her proud and loving humans along the bluffs every morning and afternoon. Cricket is eager to greet you so be sure to say hello. As Jan says smiling about her ebullient and super sociable canine, “She just needs people”.
NJ is a storyteller who has written in many voices for clients in health, education, entertainment, food, sport and politics. Her firm managed publicity for documentary films, book authors and the U.S. Championships. NJ received the Lynn Weaver Award from the Entertainment Professional Publicists Society for her lifelong commitment to philanthropy and community volunteerism.
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