by Wendy Hunter

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Holy fuzzy slippers Batman, it’s freaking COLD outside! How cold is it? It’s so cold that I’ve been forced to crank up the seat warmer in my car on the way to work. My hands may be freezing, but my tushy is nice and toasty. And for those of you who’ve been reading my babblings for a while, you know I’m never chilly. But my poor tootsies have been feeling like ice cubes when I’m tiptoeing down the hall in the morning. Brr. Luckily, our remote-control fireplace starts working in a flash. That’s usually where you’ll find my mother, sitting in her rocker, bundled up like Nanook of the North. How was your holiday? I hope you got lots of treats in your stocking, and not a lump of coal. We headed up to Redding for a visit with my cousin, and we couldn’t have crammed one more thing in the car. I was wedged in the back seat between gifts and goodies, with barely a couple of inches to move. There was literally no room for anything else. If we had tried to stuff in a tiny peppermint candy cane, the whole interior would have exploded. And that would have made for a very cranky Christmas… Bah, Humbug!

Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. ~ David Ogden Stiers.

If you don’t know anything about Redding, it’s a city up north, about three hours from Sacramento. It’s generally a six-hour trip, but it’s more like four-and-a-half when my sister drives. It’s home to the jaw-dropping Sundial Bridge and the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. If you’re the outdoorsy type, there’s lots of fun activities like biking, hiking, and fishing. And if skiing is your game, you can do both water and snow, as Mount Shasta offers plenty of that. It was frosty weather at my cousin’s place, and we even had a crazy hailstorm. With just six of us in a big two-story house, it was a cozy food-and-beverage-filled time. The days flew by, and it wasn’t long before I was squished back into the car, my knees shoved under my chin. It took my aching back a good 48 hours to recover from that trip home, and even longer for me to unpack. Cocoa was thrilled to see us, after spending the week with our Rover.com gal. I guess she missed us, but you can never tell with dogs. Whether you’re gone five minutes or five days, you get the same reaction “OMG, you’ve been gone forever!”

According to a Greek myth, Zeus thought he had given all the plants a name, whereupon a small blue flower shouted “forget me not!” ~ The Joy of Plants

Speaking of dogs, are you thinking of starting the New Year with a new friend? Animal Rescue of Fresno is always overflowing with dogs, and every single one of them is looking for a family. When adopting a dog, you want to think about your household situation, your work schedule, and if you have children and/or other pets. Maybe you prefer a big slobbery dog, who’s more than happy to be your couch potato, binge watching Squid Game with you. Too violent? How about the Great British Baking Show, where you can both drool over custard-filled pastries. Perhaps you’d like a jogging pal for the park, or someone sweet and small to carry around in your Gucci handbag. Whatever your taste, ARF will almost certainly have the perfect match for your lifestyle. Unfortunately, there are many dogs at our facility who have been with us way too long. Through no fault of their own, time passes by, and they continue to be forgotten. They’re the Susan Lucci of the homeless dog world; sometimes it takes 21 nominations before you win. Here are a few celebrities just waiting for their close-up…

The only problem with children is they grow up to be people, and I just like animals better than people. It’s that simple. Betty White

People of a certain age will remember Betty White on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, and others laughed along with her on The Golden Girls. In the 60s and 70s, she was a staple on many game shows, including Match Game and The Hollywood Squares. She’s appeared in many films, including her hilarious turn as a foul-mouthed widow in Lake Placid, who feeds unsuspecting bovine to a mutant crocodile. At ARF, we’ve paid tribute to the star and animal advocate, by naming a dog in her honor. Just like her namesake, Betty White is bright and adventurous, filled with curiosity and intelligence. Always up for some excitement, this beautiful Shepherd mix loves to play catch and take long walks. She’s eager to learn new things and aced her basic obedience training.

A resilient dog, Betty has overcome many challenges, but has emerged brave and affectionate. Because she’s so enthusiastic, she would not be ideal in a home with small children; we wouldn’t want her to knock them down. It might take a few Meet and Greets before she warms up, but once you toss her a toy, you’ll be “In Like Flynn.” Betty is about two-years old, and she’d do best in a home with no other dogs, cats … or crocodiles. Come meet the star of our show with the tri-colored coat, and toothy grin. Lights! Camera! Action!

What we do in life echoes in eternity. ~ Maximus Meridius, Gladiator

There are many hunky heroes that have graced the Silver Screen, including Superman, Rocky, and Indiana Jones. They each have their own ingenious way to beat the bad guy and save the day. Another champion of the people, and skillful tiger tamer, is Maximus of Gladiator fame. A daring and courageous warrior, he survived by using his brain and brawn to defeat a powerful ruler. At ARF, our Maximus is as handsome as his namesake, and just as brave. Since he came to us as a stray from animal control, his background is a bit of a mystery. We do know he greets all new friends with the wag of his tail, and treats definitely win him over. He loves a good walk and he scored well in basic obedience training. Keep in mind that Maximus is still in the learning phase, so additional training is a good idea. This adorable guy has been at ARF since May of 2023, and his new family will truly appreciate his loving nature. Maximus would be a wonderful partner for your morning run, or a talented outfielder for playing catch. Because he’s so strong, he’d be best in a home without younger kids, because he might knock them down by mistake. Maximus might be a bit much for other dogs, so it’s best if he’s the only pet in the house. Come meet this conquering hero and bring him home to your castle!

I think you do your best work when you take chances, when you’re not safe, when you’re not in the middle of the road, at least for me, anyway. ~ Danny DeVito

The small-scale movie star that is Danny DeVito has been around for a long time. His roles range from the cranky cab owner on Taxi, to the fortune hunter in Romancing the Stone, to the Ring Master in Big Fish. Just like his namesake, Danny has a mellow and good-natured personality. I don’t know how the real DeVito walks on a leash, but OUR Danny does very well. Danny is about two-years old and is a mixed breed. He’s low to the ground and he looks like a Shepherd crossed with a Bassett, because his head is big, and his body is long. Mixed breed, indeed. His legs may be short, but he can cover some ground while playing with his ARF friends. Which is why he would enjoy a household with a buddy to play with. He’s not really sure what a cat is, but that remains to be seen. I can tell you from personal experience what a treasure Danny is, because he was fantastic with everyone at our Subaru event. For hours, he laid at the feet of one of our volunteers, enjoying the nice cool floor. Danny may not have won any awards yet, but he’s a true winner of hearts at ARF.

Animal Rescue of Fresno
4545 E Dakota Ave.
Fresno, CA 93726
Website: arf-fresno.com

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section and check back every month for another animal rescue adventure from ARF. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to a local animal rescue. We also have a pet Facebook group for KRL and we would love to have you join!

Wendy Hunter has been volunteering with ARF since 2014. She grew up in Fresno and has been an Office Assistant with Fresno County for 7 years. She has been writing all of her life, though never professionally, and currently writes personalized poetry for birthdays, weddings, pet remembrances, etc.