Bella Barely Makes it to CalWEAR

We almost missed pickup # 3 today due to a misunderstanding.

The WEIMBUS was running late this morning (due to LA trafffic, what else?! ) so we alerted BELLA’S owner that 10:30 am in San Clemente would be more like 11:30 am.

The response we got back was, “My daughter brought her up in her car but has already left.”

Well, crap!

We felt awful, because we knew this was an urgent situation and were already warned that if we couldn’t get Bella today, she’d be going to the shelter.

With a pretty full bus, we left a message asking what shelter Bella was being dropped off at so we could go get her. If we didn’t hear back, we decided that two pickups were good enough for a day’s work and headed back north towards LA.

Then the phone rang.

Bella’s owner clarified that he was sitting in the Carl’s Jr. parking lot with Bella. And they were still waiting for us. It turns out that the family was leaving for Arizona, today, and that since the father didn’t have room for Bella in his own vehicle, his daughter drove separately, dropped off the dog, and departed for AZ. Dad waited for us with his dog, her beds, and crate, on the asphalt.

We arrived just before 2:00 pm. Dad was grateful we showed up. Our hearts hurt for him because we could see the anguish in his face about leaving his girl. Dad has lost his job and sold his house. His entire life was packed up in his car, and after this, he was headed off to someplace temporary.

Sometimes, life doesn’t go as planned. We’re happy to take care of Bella and find her a WONDERFUL home. We also hope that her former family lands on their feet, and that someday they are able to pay it forward by rescuing another dog and providing her a home that her previous home couldn’t.

So, MEET BELLA. She’s four. She’s great with dogs and kids. And she’s with us tonight through no fault of her own.

The time is now 12:58 AM. We are finally wrapping up our day of driving all over the LA basin, Coastal Orange County, the High Desert, and then back to the LA basin. WE ARE EXHAUSTED.

– Over and out, Team CalWEAR