How about another successful rescue story?

This story is near and dear to me. This boy is my nephew Paulie...

My sister lost her sweet boy Diego in 2013. It was a hard loss, (as we all know, losing a pet is). She had decided that she could not go through that pain again and wasn't going to have another dog. (I think something we all have said in the midst of the hurting)

2016 rolls around and the feelings for wanting another dog start to stir. Looking online at different rescues and there wasn't that calling. Until Dec of that year and she came across The Barking Lot's website and found this little dog named Alessio. He was the cutest little brown dog. There was that calling that she was looking for! She reached out to the shelter and was told that he was adopted a few days before. UGH! She didn't give up and still made an appointment to go into the rescue and look at a few other dogs. The want is real now! :) I go with her and when we get there, she was talking at the front desk and mentioned how she was initially interested in Alessio but saw that he was adopted. Well... he was returned the day before. Alessio was a little spicy and had snapped at the wife and they didn't want that kind of dog because they had little kids. (Enter patience here)

We did look at other dogs while we were there, but knowing Alessio was in the back, it was hard to see past that. (granted my sister is like me and if we could, we would take them all home) They brought Alessio out and we took him for a walk. The perfect gentlemen. Next thing we know he is riding in the back seat. 

We get home and out comes the spice. I am sitting on the steps and having him smell me, get comfortable and he wants a piece of my ear. (Insert patience here) We have been around dogs all our lives and a little snap isn't going to scare us!

Alessio was roughly 10 months old and from what we know he spent all of his 10 months in a shelter, rescued and returned how many times. I am looking at the paperwork that was given when she adopted him and the previous owner that brought him home for a few days said that the dog barks and peed in the house because he didn't know how to communicate that he had to go out. (insert patience and maybe some intelligence here) He is 10 months old and never had a home or proper training! Just saying....

Fast forward to 2025. Alessio who is now known as Paulie Alessio is an amazing little dog. He did need patience, training and understanding and my sister was the one to do that for him. Initially he had separation anxiety and tore up the house on occasion. Tried crate training and that made it worse for him. Trying to come up with what would help this little dog..... Day care! He's around other people, getting his socialization skills in and having a great time while mom is at work. It took a little while and a little at a time, more time & trust was given to him and he was able to stay home comfortably. Now there are times, when he wants mom to go out so he can have himself some Paulie time. Patience!! 

Paulie is now 9 years old. He's one spoiled little dog who is smart as a whip, happy & healthy who rules the house (in a good way). We wouldn't want it any other way. 

                                                    A daycare pal...

                                              Anyone want to play ball?

            Covid times were tough! How does one breath with this thing on??

                                                    Thanks mom 💖

                              Go get yourself a Paulie! You won't regret it!!!

                         The Barking Lot - 23415 CA-78 Ramona, CA 92065

     Adopt A Dog in San Diego, Find Rescues and Soi Dogs | The Barking Lot The Barking Lot

You rescued a dog! Now what?

Congratulations! You saved a life! Now you are thinking, what do I do now?

Rescuing a dog is a fun and exciting time but also at the same time it can be stressful! One thing you need and will constantly need to be reminded of, is to have Patience! Patience, understanding and tender loving care. Unfortunately, because they are unable to communicate with us, they won't be able to tell us their story. A lot of them have been through a lot since being born and have trauma. With a lot of love and compassion, you can help them get past their trauma or at best, help them live a good life despite it. 

When you first bring home a pup, they will go through what is called the Decompression stage. They will be quiet, nervous, unsure of their surroundings and probably keep to themselves. At first you probably think this is great, a quiet dog that won't be a lot of trouble. Then one day you wake up and your place looks like you have a 2-year-old that has been left unsupervised! Now they are getting more comfortable and are going to explore see what they can get into and what they can get away with! This is where the patience comes into play! You will need to work with your dog and set them up for success. Sadly, once the pup starts to become more comfortable and things start to happen, that's where people are like, this is not what I signed up for and they are returned to the shelter. Dogs like people aren't born knowing what to do! We all need training! 

Do your research! Look into dog breeds and what it entails. What kind of energy will this dog have? Will it need a lot of exercise? Do they tend to be good with kids? Lots of things that should be looked into before bringing a dog home. And yes, most rescues are going to be a mixed breed and what they are will be uncertain, but for the most part, dog knowledge is a must! Also look into what it will generally cost to have a dog. Food, toys, beds, vet care, if you go on vacation where will the dog go, things like that. Preparing yourself will definitely help the transition go smoothly. 

There are many websites that you can look up by simply googling "what to do once you rescued a dog" There is a ton of information out there to help you on this new journey!

Here are a few websites along with some you tube videos...

You Just Adopted A Dog, Now What? — Canine Cohen Dog Training — Canine Cohen Dog Training

Home | Animal Health Foundation

10 Tips for the First 30 Days After Adopting a Dog | PetMD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxDI2Le13WQ

New Dog Checklist: What Most People Forget Before Adoption Day

The First Steps For Training Your Rescue/Rehomed/Adult Dog!

 

Your daily dose of cuteness....

Meet Kronk!

  

Name:Kronk

Info:Small, Young Adult, Male

Breed(s):Pug / Chihuahua

Description:Meet Kronk!
DOB: September 2024
Weight: 15lbs
Disposition:
History: Relinquished to a shelter in LA County and rescued by TBL in July 2025
Best Home:
Amazing Qualities:

If you're interested in meeting this dog, please visit our website to fill out an adoption application: www.thebarkinglot.net/adopt
Our dogs are located in San Diego County, CA. We will happily consider out of town applications and can conduct virtual play dates with interested adopters. We have monthly transport to various locations in the Pacific Northwest, individual arrangements would need to be made for other locations across the US and Canada.

He is currently residing at The Barking Lot located in Ramona CA. 
Check him out at Adopt A Dog in San Diego, Find Rescues and Soi Dogs | The Barking Lot The Barking Lot
And not to leave out your daily inspirational funny.... 

Another good reason to adopt and not shop!!

For the people that are in the know of the rescue world, shelters all over the world are swollen with pets that are in need of a home. They are struggling with trying to care for these animals and rely heavily on donations to be able to do that. 

Animals are turned in because of behavioral issues, "they grew bigger than what we thought when we got the puppy", "they have too much energy", they were found on the streets, etc... the reasons go on and on and on. Sadly, there are dogs with issues that they are born with because of how they were bred, inbreeding, mother dog was on the street so the stress of that will damage a puppy. So many people will go to breeders because they want a dog that doesn't have a background or comes with baggage. Perfect doesn't exist!

Well news flash, these dogs started out as puppies as well! It's because of reasons beyond their control and no fault of their own, and they are turned into a shelter and left behind. The longer they are in the shelter, the deeper the issues become. It's frustrating because sadly it's along the lines of selfishness of people and that's the bottom line. Babies aren't born knowing how to live, neither do dogs! It takes time and patience! Can you tell, this bothers me?!

A friend of mine recently adopted a dog from a shelter in Lancaster CA. Her name is Roxy, I haven't met her yet, but her pictures will melt your heart. They found her online from Lancaster Animal Shelter and she was on the Euthanasia list the following week. There can be a number of reasons why, could be a dog that is "beyond fixable" behavior wise, they are sick, and the shelters just don't have the funds to help, but the main one is because they have too many and if a dog is overlooked for too long, they will move on to make room for another one. In Utah there is an organization called Best Friends Animal Society, and they are working very hard with shelters around the US to become no-kill. The struggle is real.

Back to Roxy... My friends went to the shelter and told them they wanted her. For whatever reason they were told no because she was on the "Euth list". Not really sure their reasoning and my blood boils a little bit with the unknown, but my friends fought and told them they weren't going to kill her, and they weren't leaving without her. The shelter listened and let them take her home. She is a very sweet loving girl, and my friends are so happy and feel so blessed to have her in their family. 

Please if you are looking for a pet to join your family, check out your local shelters. You will find the sweetest dog or cat and you will not be sorry! 

This is Roxy.... 💖

                                       Really the Euthanasia list???? 😡

Check out these websites....

Promoting Animal Welfare & Pet Adoption | Best Friends Animal Society

Instagram     Best Friends Animal Society

Instagram     Lancaster Animal Care Center

(Not sure why it works this way, but if you click the highlighted, it will bring up the link)

A little about me and a successful adoption story!

My name is Crystal and I am a dog walker/pet sitter. I have had my business for 18 years. As you can imagine, I have come across so many dogs of different shapes, sizes, breeds, personalities. Some have more training than others. I do my best and try to work with the ones that need a little more assistance with their manners. But I digress..... I love my job and all the pups. 

I do have a soft spot for rescues and really want to try and help them find their forever homes. I have shared some of the dogs that are up for adoption from The Barking Lot in previous blogs and will continue to share dogs from different shelters that are in the San Diego area and try to find them homes! I also want to share successful rescue stories as well, so you can see that a shelter pup is worth the time and effort and you won't be sorry!

First up is Wunderbar, Wunde for short. She is one of the sweetest dogs I have ever met. Her name is German and translates to Wonderful and I have to say they couldn't have picked a better name. Wunde was found in Mexico in what is called "the dog graveyard". It's a place people will leave unwanted dogs. She was only 6 months old. Just the thought of her being dropped off brings a tear to your eye. She can be cautious with people and is still slow to trust men but is willing to try. When I first met her, it was love at first sight on both sides. She gets so excited when I show up and when we walk, she walks right alongside of me and most times she has to be touching. She is always happy and has a smile on her face as if she is saying thank you. 

Check out this sweet girl.... how can you not love that smile?

Wunde also lives with her "brothers" Chewbacca & Vadar who are also rescues. Wunde and Chewie were rescued from We Saved A Puppy. Vadar was rescued through Pug rescue.

Check out their website and find your Wunde!! You can't beat the feeling of knowing you saved a life!!

                                            www.wesavedapuppy.org. 

How about these cuties??

So many rescues... Lets help these babies!! 

These are some more pups looking for their forever homes and are currently staying at The Animal Pad located in La Mesa CA. 

                                                     Matilda - The Animal Pad Dog Rescue

                                                        Rose - The Animal Pad Dog Rescue

                                                     Left Eye - The Animal Pad Dog Rescue

                                                        Sally - The Animal Pad Dog Rescue

                                 Clavamox (Urgently Needs A Foster) - The Animal Pad Dog Rescue

Click on their name under their picture and it will bring you to their page on the Animal Pad website. 

It really breaks my heart to see these babies looking for their forever homes. To read their stories, what they have been through and all they want is to be loved and given a warm bed to sleep in. 

If you are unable to adopt, consider fostering or even donating just to help these rescues be able to supply for these pups, nurse them back to health and find them loving homes. 

Rescue....

There are so many dogs that are in need of a home. Puppies are like babies. Dogs are like kids, in the sense that they need to be trained, taught, guided and loved to the ends of the earth. Many, many dogs end up in shelters because when they are adopted, bought from a breeder or found on the streets they weren't trained or given the time they needed to succeed. These babies need love, patience and time and they look to us to show them the way. Unfortunately, a lot of dogs don't receive that end up in shelters and then looked upon as damaged dogs. 

Our shelters today are so overwhelmed with pets that need a home, and I want to help get these babies exposed! With the help of a community to spread the word, share a picture, network with others, we can find them the loving homes they deserve!

There is one shelter that I had volunteered with for a little while. Unfortunately, with my work schedule it makes it difficult to volunteer in a physical sense, but I still want to help! The rescue is called The Animal Pad. They are located in San Diego and take in a lot of sick dogs from Mexico. These dogs are nursed back to health, and then they are ready to find their homes! 

These dogs have been in the shelter for too long! As with people there is someone for everyone (or every dog!) Here are a few of their long timers... 

                                                         Abu - The Animal Pad Dog Rescue

                                                      

                                                        Blaze - The Animal Pad Dog Rescue

                                                   

                                                     Loki - The Animal Pad Dog Rescue

                                                         Ron - The Animal Pad Dog Rescue

                                                   Morticia - The Animal Pad Dog Rescue

                          The Animal Pad | Dog Rescue in San Diego and Southern California

Check out their website and see all the beautiful dogs that are looking for their forever family. We all need to be given a chance; will it be you to give that chance?

Anyone a Star Wars fan?

Bring on the Star Wars fans!! We have a princess for you!

Meet Princess Leia 💖 She is looking for her Hans Solo! 😊

She is currently staying at The Animal Pad in La Mesa with her other force warriors, but she would love to have her own pad to spend her days. She does have some separation anxiety and is blind, but with a lot of love and caring, she will become your best friend! Check out this cutie pie below. I have attached some pics of her highness along with her information. She would love to be someone's forever princess!

Age: 5 years old

Gender: Female

Breed: Lab-Terrier mix

Weight: 50 lbs

Personality: She is coping with an empty nest syndrome (after her pups getting adopted) and seeks love and companionship.

Education: Working on bathroom and good with leash training. Needs help with separation anxiety.

Favorite Activities: Likes laying in the sun and enjoyed playing with her pups (now adopted).

Looking for: A home where she can be a loving companion and be with her people.

Special needs: She is blind and needs help with her separation anxiety.

Adoption Fee: $ 275

Princess Leia will be the queen of your heart!

Greetings! My name is Princess Leia. I’m a loyal, loving lady who can’t wait to find a home. I’m a 5-year-old, 50-pound, Lab mix. I’m spayed now. My rescue story isn’t exactly a walk through the galaxy… ahem, I mean the park! I am blind and was found in desperate conditions with a litter of puppies in Tijuana. When I got spayed, my funky eye was removed too. All my babies have been adopted and it’s been a bit ruff for this momma. I miss that companionship and hope to find a furever family to fill the void!

I’m a super sweet girl who is completely trusting of her people. I used to love playing with my puppies before they were adopted. Since arriving in the states, I haven’t had many interactions with other pooches. I hope that we’d be friends! I live with a cat and we get along just fine. My foster fam doesn’t have any kids, but I think the more hoomans around to give me love the better! When I’m not keeping my people company, you can find me basking in the sun for a nice snooze.

I’m working on my leash training little by little. I know that with more practice, I’ll enjoy walks soon! I’m bathroom trained, so you don’t have to worry about any accidents in the house. Due to all the recent changes in my little life, I’m coping with some separation anxiety. I do not like to be left alone and will experience anxiety if I do. However, I’m still new to this whole domesticated doggo thing! I think that with a loving household and training, I can start to develop my confidence.

Life hasn’t been easy, but I’m hopeful for the future! I’m a sweet, trusting girl with so much potential. I would be happiest in a home with people around to keep me company. So what do you say? Listen to the Force and adopt me today! My adoption fee is $275 and that includes spaying/neutering, shots, and microchip. If you want to take me home, please fill out the form on the website here: 

https://theanimalpad.org/adoption-application/