Bravo, Lobo!

Bravo, Lobo!

by Linda Clyne

Most animal shelters and rescue organizations have a screening process in place to ensure that the animals in their care are matched with responsible, appropriate owners. While this process may seem excessively time-consuming, it is important to keep in mind that screening benefits potential adopters as much as it benefits the animals.

I received the call from RCHS dog fosterer Dagmar Moseley one Saturday afternoon. She had a problem: two wonderful men wanted to adopt Lobo. Now, to most people, the prospect of placing this fine, floppy-eared adolescent in a loving home would appear to be good news. For months, Lobo and his brother Hobo had been waiting, but nobody seemed to want either of these adorable puppies.

Abandoned months earlier, they were so tiny you could hold them in one hand. Over time they had grown healthy, handsome and alert; they were lean, sleek, and eager to please. After graduating from Puppy Kindergarten they were especially good candidates for adoption and, as their education progressed, so did Dagmar’s resolve to place them with owners who possessed equally high credentials.

Don and Larry were just the kind of people we had in mind. Dogs had been an important part of their lives since childhood and for some time they had been searching for a canine companion to share their home. The only problem, if it was a problem, was the place they call home: Don and Larry live in San Francisco.

We who choose to live along the coast tend to believe that our animals prefer a rural environment as well. Could Lobo be happy in the big city? Dagmar’s struggle with that question led to her request that I visit Don and Larry at their weekend rental house.

For an hour I subjected them to probing questions and unsolicited advice. The grace and good humor with which they handled my unannounced visit convinced me that they would provide an equally gracious home for our little boy Lobo.

Lobo is now “Bravo,” and the name couldn’t be more appropriate. He has settled into his new life with characteristic spunk and enthusiasm. Daily treks through the Presidio or to the beach at Fort Funston give him opportunities for exercise and socialization. He is furthering his education at the San Francisco SPCA, where he has distinguished himself as a standout student, much to Don and Larry’s delight. He gets compliments from everyone he meets, and Larry’s nieces and nephews are particularly fond of him.

“Larry and I know how really lucky we are to have a dog as wonderful as Bravo,” says Don. Can a country dog be happy in the big city? With the right people, yes. Bravo, Bravo, Don and Larry!