03/30/2022
As many of you already know, March 31, 2022, is my last day at Best Friends Pet Resort & Canine Academy; I will be heading to Albuquerque soon after.
Dr. Rob Santos will take over under the new name, RoamNBoard, bringing new opportunities for our guests, customers, and staff. Westside Animals for Adoption will be replaced by Kate’s Furreka, which will continue with adoptions and fostering of pets needing homes. I’m grateful for the welcome given by this community when I moved here in 2000. I had no idea that the business would flourish and morph into a mission of giving back to people and their pets. I’m indebted to my employees, customers, friends, community, and, of course, all the thoroughly delightful 4-legged guests. It truly has been a miraculous life.
My miracles:
*Puppies sleeping on my lap; hearing dogs snore; watching dogs
play and cats watch us
*Being able to foster-board pets when under-resourced owners are
n need
*Being surrounded by dedicated, caring, and smart employees and
volunteers
*Seeing students smile when experiencing flow as they train their
dogs
*Returning lost pets to their happy owners—sometimes more than
once
*Being supported by a community that believes in the human-
animal bond
*Nailing excellent customer service
*Watching our junior volunteers flourish
*Thanks to our donors, helping needy owners access veterinary
care for their pets
*Sharing space with coyotes, fox, owls, birds and bugs, frogs, toads,
geese, and ducks
*Watching the seasons unfold—the hills, river, fields, and orchards
*Eating almonds off the trees (don’t tell the farmers)
*Taking dogs for a swim in the river
*Being part of the team saving lives
