by Joyce Brandon

Joyce is a part of Animal Compassion Team, an animal rescue in Squaw Valley.

I have been involved in animal rescue for four or five years now. I have fostered hundreds of dogs and cats, young and old, small and large, sweet and not so sweet; but, this is the first time I’ve fostered a dog worthy of his own verb. You’ve been renned is a phrase I’ve started using and anyone who knows my foster dog Ren knows exactly what I mean. I am convinced the term renned will be to calamity as Google is to search.

Ren is a little over a year old and has now lived at least half of his life with my family. This spunky shepherd mix was rescued from a high kill shelter in a rural community near Fresno. Being renned means different things to different people but once you’ve been renned you know it.

Ren in jail, a condemned dog

My daughter knew she had been renned one afternoon when she took Ren outside to put him on his zip line for a little fresh air. A zip line is sometimes necessary when you have a free spirit like Ren that just won’t be contained. I’m convinced the song “Don’t Fence Me In” was written for this dog! Taylor wasn’t aware of Ren’s acrobatic antics at the end of his cable so without much thought she attached the clasp to his collar but then came the mistake: she forgot to step aside. Ren had a fabulous time running circles around her much like children around a Maypole. Yes, you guessed it, he managed to wrap her legs with the cable and down she went! Ren and the other dogs in the yard thought it was great fun giving her kisses as she lay helplessly entangled in the cable. Taylor, you’ve been renned!

Ren wasn’t in his playpen for more than five minutes when I looked out to see him escaping through the tarp cover!

The term renned came to mind just the other day. I had let Ren out in the backyard to take care of his morning business. Since it was just going to be for a short time and because it had been raining, I was sure he would manage to forego his explorations and give me a break: not to be. Thankfully Ren never wanders far as there is way too much trouble to be found close to home. His recall is usually very good so it often doesn’t take much more than a loud “Ren” to bring him bounding back to me. That morning was no exception.

I couldn’t see him but knew that he usually likes to explore the hill behind our house. I called “Ren” and started scanning the horizon. I didn’t see him immediately, what I saw was tall parting grass flinging the morning’s rain in all directions. It was as if I was being treated to my very own water works spectacular. I was mesmerized for only a moment when I realized that this was a very wet Ren running at full speed right towards me. I debated for just a second and then decided that running for the house was the smartest thing to do. Needless to say, this very wet, very enthusiastic dog caught up with me long before we reached the house. What could I do but laugh and it was at that very moment that verb renned was born.

Ren is a dog you love to hate and hate to love but, before you realize it, he has worked his way into your heart. Ren is a challenge and a joy all in the same breath. He is everything a dog shouldn’t be yet everything they should. I refer to him as my Dennis the Menace, you know one, the kid with the big heart who finds himself in constant trouble. Ren is a living, breathing, oxymoron and life is always interesting with him around. Having said all that, Ren is looking for a home and is available for adoption.

Need a buddy? Up to a challenge? Looking for some Ren adventures of your own? If so, please visit his webpage for additional photos and videos of Ren in action. Contact me for a more personal discussion of this big goofy dog at joyce@animalcompassionteam.com

Learn more about ACT in their article here at KRL & watch for a new adoptable pet from ACT on our home page every week.

Joyce Brandon is co-founder of Animal Compassion Team, has lived in Squaw Valley for 21 years and has always had lots of four legged friends sharing her mountain home along with her husband Jim, and five children. Joyce works part time for Mountain Valley Community Church and splits the rest of her time between family and animal rescue work. Joyce believes animal rescue is a mission field God has called her to and has given her a passion for.