Lani Kai: A Dog's Tale (Abridged)

Lani Kai: A Dog's Tale

(Abridged)

The following is a true story and pieced together from actual events

It was about 3 1/2 to 4 years ago (2007) in Roseville, California, that a white and copper colored, adolescent puppy with a fluffy white curled tail was found alone and roaming the streets.  She was picked up and delivered to the SPCA, and thought to be just about a year old. Although not wearing any identifying dog tags, it was discovered after examination that she had an identification micro chip under her skin, as is common with many pets these days, especially those of value, whether it be monetary or sentimental. The microchip was checked, but the phone number associated with the chip had been disconnected and no further contact information for her owners was known. Veterinarians identified her as a healthy, Akita and Siberian Husky mixed female.  This breed is sometimes called “Huskita.”  It was obvious from an exam that this puppy, while only just over a year old, had also recently given birth to puppies and still had milk. She was healthy, but lost and on her own...relegated to the streets and homeless, her puppies gone forever. No one called, no one came in to claim her, and no one knew who she was or to whom she belonged.

Much like Hachi, in the movie, Hachi: A Dog's Tale, this beautiful and quite friendly puppy was lost and without a home. An elderly couple living in Roseville, Marion and Russell, in search of a companion, went the SPCA and happened upon this strikingly beautiful Huskita puppy and adopted her. They named her Bella, Italian for 'lovely' or 'beautiful', and she was definitely suited for her new name. She now had a home, and was loved and cared for with pride.  She bonded quickly and had separation anxiety anytime her new family left her at home alone.  Bella spent time with her new owners, their kids and grandson and was friendly, somewhat timid, but always loving and gentle.  Russell, in his 80’s, walked Bella up and down the street in front of their home in their quiet and peaceful Roseville retirement community.  Not realizing part of her breed instincts were to guard, Russell was inadvertently showing Bella this was “her street” to protect.   One day, a small “yappy” (Marion’s word) toy dog was being walked across the street while Bella was in the front of her home with Russell.   She inexplicably ran to the barking little dog and snapped at her.  Russell was, of course, surprised and immediately retrieved Bella and offered to pay for a vet visit to make certain the dog was alright.  The toy dog’s elderly owner was furious.  Although her dog had no broken skin, no visible injuries and a vet bill never arrived, she reported Bella to the Animal Control as a vicious dog.  Officers came and took Bella away and locked her into a cage.  Russell fought hard to get her back as soon as possible and did so after a couple of days.  She went through separation anxiety again and clung to Russell’s side.

Marion and Russell had Bella go through training with a professional trainer, walked her on new and different routes and did everything the Animal Control asked.  Bella was on probation, but allowed to go back to her new home where she lived comfortably and incident free.  She regularly went to the dog park, on walks, to neighbors, dog sitters, family and never showed any aggression to anyone or any living thing.  In her short life, this poor little puppy had been abandoned, lost her puppies, spent time in 'jail', and now had a record.  It's believed that her original owners lost their house during the foreclosure rage in 2008 and just left her when the left their home. What became of her puppies, no one knows. How unthinkable to just release or abandon such a beautiful, expensive, and well trained puppy, as Bella.

Well, their loss was Bella and Russell and Marion’s gain.  Russell and Marion cared for their loyal, beautiful, sweet, well trained and incredibly loving Bella for several years.  When Russell became sick, it was Bella who noticed first.  She took to sleeping by the side of his bed, sensing something was wrong.  Russell took ill and became wheelchair bound. Bella no longer got the long walks and many dog park visits as Marion now cared for Russell in his diminishing state of health.  One of Russell’s few pleasures was to feed Bella from the table and give her treats all day long.  Marion didn’t have the heart to stop it, although she knew it was unhealthy for Bella, it made her husband happy.  Bella stayed by Russell’s side and was with him up to the end of his life.  She was again distraught and lost without her Master.  Marion and Bella were now alone together.  85 pound Marion and the now 88 pound Bella grieved together for their loved one. 

Approximately six months later...

Friday, 30 September 2011

My wife, Dawn, took our cat, Malu, to the Vet for a follow-up appointment. While Malu was in the back with the Doctor, Dawn waited patiently in the waiting room. Ironically, the day prior her iPhone fell and the screen cracked. With a boring wait in the Vet's office and no phone to use, she looked around the office and noticed a flyer for a "Dog whose owner died needs a good home"...it was Bella.   Normally, she would have taken a picture and sent it to me, baiting me to save the lost dog.  But she had no phone and went home with Malu, not mentioning the dog until the next morning.  I heard the story and was hooked. "Did you call?" I asked.  “Call! Really?” she responded. "Yes!" I replied.

Dawn called the number and sat quietly next to me, tears in her eyes as she heard Marion’s story about Bella and Russell and her need to find Bella a home before she too was unable to care for her.  A play-date was arranged so that  Bella could come over to our home and spend the day with me, Kona Kai, our Chocolate Lab, and Malu, our Seal Point Mitted Ragdoll cat (who, by the way, is free to a good home, but don’t tell Dawn). ;)

We arranged the play-date for Monday, 3 October.

Monday, 3 October 2011...The play-date arrived

Up early, Dawn and I were both excited, but both notably nervous, as we readied ourselves to go meet and, hopefully, pick-up Bella for a play-date back at our home. Off we went; we drove two cars so Dawn could continue on to work following the meeting. I would then drive Bella back in my car. Kona Kai? Well, she stayed home with her 'Kongs' loaded with Scooby Snacks. She's good, happy as can be, but has no idea of what could and was about to happen to our home, her world, her domain. Sharing...Alpha dog...jockeying for position...sleeping arrangements...Kongs...toys. Wow, these were just some of the things we tried to explain to Kona, but she was all about the Scooby Snacks. Kona Kai is a well known "jellybean", as we call her when anyone but her is trying to get love. If there's any free love being handed out to people or animal alike, you will soon find a wet, brown nose and a wagging tail nudging to get in on the action, bulldozing her way in. 4,200 square feet of home with just me and Dawn, and Kona's always RIGHT THERE! "Ah, hi guys, it's Kona, you know me, Knob." Yup, we call her Knob sometimes, because when we had our old Verizon flip phones, the automatic spell checker would always change the word from 'Kona' to 'Knob' as either one of us typed it. The nickname stuck. Plus, she has a cute knob on top of her head. Oh, she's sensitive about that. Oh, well...Kona will deal with the changes ahead. Hey, she's a Lab.  Her ADD is good for diverting her attention quickly. "Look, squirrel!" Oh, sorry, back to Bella now.

Dawn and I talked at length on our cell phones as we traveled the 20 minute drive to meet Bella. We both commented to each other of the 'butterflies', many butterflies, we had as if we were going to an adoption agency or a job interview. I also commented how trusting this elderly, single woman was to invite strangers over to her home and to possibly take her dog away. But, I also said it may comfort her and probably interest any nosy neighbors when a BMW and Mercedes both pull up together in front of her home. No, we're not here to roll Grandma and steal the pooch, so to speak. Or, stuff her in the car and speed off, like some cheesy cop show. No, the District Attorney and Airline Captain were here to spread the word of love,...puppy love. :)

Navigation complete, we pulled up to the quaint, small home, nestled in Roseville's Sun City Retirement Community. We immediately noticed the second, smaller garage door open with a golf cart inside and a tan and white dog in the shadows. We were at the right home. Butterflies abound within me.  I could see Bella and could feel emotion well up inside, looking for an exit as it travels up from my depths and straight for my eyes. "Leaky" is what Dawn calls it when I get this way.  It's just who I am.

As we both approached the garage, hand in hand, petite Marion appeared with Bella, followed by whom we now know as Marion's neighbor, a tall, large man in his 70's who wanted to adopt Bella, but couldn't due to his wife's illness. He was also here, wisely I might add, to make sure we were on the "up and up" and to help Marion in her finding suitable adoptive people for her precious Bella.

Yup, beautiful sweet Bella...there she was and here came the leaks! They found their exit. Crap! I tried to tell myself, "Steady...steady...push it back down!"  But it was no use: Dawn squeezed my hand and smiled.

Bella was strikingly beautiful and came right up to both of us, but immediately nuzzled her face into my hand.  I looked at Dawn and she at me, and I knew I was done. She had me at big golden brown puppy dog eyes; leaving her there was not an option.  We went inside Marion's home and sat down on the living room floor, just inside the garage door and next to the kitchen.  Bella followed us inside and laid down between us.  She sought us both out for affection and rolled over so we could rub her belly.  

So, then we all talked. Well, Marion talked and we listened and petted Bella's soft white under belly. Incidentally, Soft White Under Bellies is the underground name that the Rock group Blue Oyster Cult goes by as they play small clubs throughout the West Coast. You know, "Don’t Feel The Reaper?" Okay, back to Marion. Yes, she talked and talked and talked. This cute, petite, elderly lady was fit, feisty, and quite a talker, or should I say a 'direction giver?'  As she talked and told us all about Bella and what we were to do and not to do while we had her on the play date, inside, I was thinking, "Ah, excuse me, but she's not coming back here, ya know."  Deep into Marion's instructions, Dawn and I caught each other’s eyes. We, two highly educated professionals both felt like we were ten years old again and being lectured. Not only was Marion explaining some of what I've written here, but unbeknownst to us, we were, yes, WE were being interviewed, as I will explain later. Dawn and I felt the same way and smiled at each other: we knew.

So, back to this beautiful, soft, well mannered dog. I softly scratched her chin from below as she gingerly kept her head lying on my leg. Every time I tried to stop, she would gently nudge under my right hand to put it back up to her head. We were bonding. As Marion talked, I could also see and sense the eyes of her neighbor as he stood just next to me, to the right, with his towering body hovering over me. At one point he chuckled and said, "Oh, my, she must sense him. She never does this and especially not to a man." Within minutes, he said his peace, wished us a good day, and politely excused himself. He loved Bella and would have taken her in, but couldn't and when he saw her reaction to us, he knew Bella had a new home.

But that didn't stop Marion. Oh, boy, can she talk! We got the lowdown and then came the talent show. As I stood, I looked over to see a small, plastic cutting board, knife, and a half sliced piece of cheese lying on the kitchen counter. Dawn saw it too as our eyes met. She had to get to work and I was anxious to get back home and see Kona and Bella together. Would she chase down Malu? Really? Cool! Seriously, that would have been a deal breaker for the whole thing and is one reason we called this a test, not a permanent decision. Well, having seen the cheese, we now know how Bella gained all that weight. But, you know, it made the last months, weeks, and days of Russell's life special. We'll take care of Bella and Kona will help get her into great shape. She had a job here, a purpose, and she served them well. She was a gift given to these wonderful people as they struggled through tough times together. It was meant to be. The once neglected, homeless, imprisoned, and accused dog was sent here for a reason.

Well, we got to see Bella's tricks: sit, paw, lay, roll over, and howl.  We learned of the antibiotics she'd been on for about a week, heard of her fancy for cheeses, especially cream cheese, and finally how she won't go out the door until the 'leader' goes first, and only on command. Dawn and I managed to make our way outside and towards our cars with Marion in tow and still telling us stories.

Marion was excited. She liked us. And, most importantly, she saw that Bella liked us too. Lastly, as we parted, Dawn mentioned the name of our friend, Donna, whose parents lived nearby, in the same Sun City community, hoping it would help Marion feel more comfortable about the people she was entrusting with her beloved pet. Marion knew them. Oh, she knew them well enough to call them and check on us. She called our references! Oh my God, we got interviewed and references called. Is Bella special? You bet she is!

At the car, Bella climbed right into the back seat and curled up on Kona's car bed for the whole drive home. Our noble princess was heading to her new home. Just like she came upon Marion and Russell, Bella was to be ours now, a welcome addition to our home. Dawn and I talked on the drive home and decided together to give her a new beginning, a new life, and a new name. Oh, she wasn't going back and everyone at that meeting knew it. Marion gave us just about everything she had of Bella's, including her bed.  We are a home of Hawaiian named pets, so we thought we’d see how Bella would respond to a new moniker. It was decided Bella was now Lani Kai. The name Lani is of Hawaiian origin means "Heaven, Sky, Noble Woman, Royal" and is well suited for this beautiful gift who just happened into our life. Lani Kai was also the name of Dawn’s childhood rescue dog – an abused sheltie-collie mix dog her dad had brought home from a party when she was in grade school and who became a cherished member of her family. Lani Kai, meet Koa Kai; we were now home.

Entering the garage, I heard Kona Kai inside. I opened the door to let her out and opened the car door to let Lani out. Let the sniffing begin!...and it did.

Kona and Lani immediately did the dog getting to know you sniff test, followed by some cheerful play.  Once we all got inside, Lani took quick walk-about and then took a place on the tile floor within the 'great room' and appeared to be right at home. And, of course, within the hour, Marion called to check in on Lani and see how things were going along.

Yes, all was well. Lani fit right in and appeared happy. Believe it or not, she responded well to her new name and acknowledged it. We actually wondered if her original name was something close in sound to Lani, as opposed to Bella, since she took to it so well. Hmmm....

On to the next day and the play date was going well. Kona slept in her usual spot, sprawled out across the foot of our California King and Lani opted for the floor, soft white under belly side up. Besides, she's a bit out of shape to make the leap up on to the bed like our 'Knob Rocket.' Yup, another one of Kona's nicknames. Just wait until you hear the Knoblets story.

Tuesday, 4 October 2011...Adoption Day

Up very early and out the door; I had to fly out to Baltimore and back for the day. About the time I get to Las Vegas, I got a text and a picture from Dawn. Apparently she woke up early and Lani was not to be found in the bedroom. She went on a quick search of the house only to find Lani nestled at the foot of my chair, next to the desk in our office where she had been sitting with me during her first days with us. My little (not so much) Huskita puppy missed me and was worried I was gone. Was I coming back? Was she abandoned again? Did I die like Russell or Richard Gere in the movie? What was going through Lani’s mind? She and I had only spent one day together, but we already developed a bond.

Dawn calmly reassured her that 'Daddy's' coming home. Everything was fine and no one left her. With me gone and Dawn soon off to work, it would be just the two dogs and Malu home for the day. Oh, how was Malu handling all this? (S)He's a cat...could care less. In fact, Malu has been lying in Lani's bed at any chance, from day one. It's almost a taunt, but Lani isn’t phased by it.

The day went by, Dawn came home late in the afternoon and, yes, Lani was right there next to my desk in the office. Akita's are loyal and protectors of their Masters. For nine years the real Hatchi or Hatchiko as he was known in Japan, went to the train station at 5PM, silently waiting in the courtyard for his deceased master. Lani sits silently in our driveway, quarrying our home every time she's out front.

It was indeed a long day and I got home well after midnight, only to be cheerfully and loudly greeted by both dogs. Yup, Daddy's home! After I got home, Dawn again told me about the office and Lani. She also filled me in on the fact that, on her way home, she stopped by Marion's to pick-up the rest of Lani's things. Yup, just stop by and pick up a few things....Ha! "Come on in, Dawn, I need to tell you some things," said Marion. Yes, this is when Marion filled Dawn in on the particulars of Lani's sad and troubled past. Of the puppies, SPCA, and 'yappy' dog attack. This was when we got the whole story. They both were in tears as Marion explained, in detail, Lani's troubled past as Dawn absorbed it, not believing she could be talking about the same mild mannered, sweet dog who had immediately taken to us.  Then, Dawn eyed the legal pad filled with names and numbers and information, including our own.  She asked if others had called about Lani.  Oh ya, plenty of folks wanted her.  Marion had listed Lani on an internet Husky rescue site, her community bulletins and the vet.  Many had inquired, but the circle around our names told the story – we were the chosen ones.  

Wednesday, 5 October 2011...Parole Board???

Mid-morning the phone rang. It was Marion, according to the caller ID. I let it ring because I knew she could talk up a storm plus I was not ready to give up "OUR" puppy. In case she had second thoughts, I needed to come up with a plan. Boy, was I wrong! Marion left a message, ran our machine out of space, and had some very interesting news for us. She wanted to check on how things were going, but also to inform us that she contacted the officer that was assigned to Lani's “yappy” dog attack and subsequent incarceration. Ah, her Parole Officer! Marion said the officer will release her from any reporting obligation to animal control, and since she not had any incidents in the last three years, he would wipe her record clean. Oh my, our Lani Kai had been on parole. They coordinated to have our phone number put on record for the under skin ID microchip and she was free. Our little parolee was free! Yea! And thanks for filling us in on all of this before we committed! Yea!

Seriously, Lani is a sweetheart and we sure the “yappy” dog incident was overinflated by a crabby 'old lady from down the street. Lani has been great and friendly to people and pets around us. Later in the week, our friend, Comedian Kermet Apio, came to visit over the Columbus Day holiday and stay a couple of days. Lani was perfect with him, this newcomer to our home who was allergic to dogs was won over by her too. She loved on him and welcomed him to our (her) home.

11 October 2011 to present day...Assimilation Time

Lani has been with us a little over two weeks now. She is happy, playing hard with Kona, enjoying her new diet, using the dog door, responding to her name, sleeping well, guarding our front yard, and putting up with Malu's persistent pestering. <FREE kitty> She is not a swimmer, so she just hangs out around the pool chewing on a ball or toy when we're in.  And when Kona swims, she either follows Kona on her OCD ball fetching path, trying to get her ball, or plays with her own.  She goes on frequent, on and off leash walks in our neighborhood, which has a lot of open land.  She is well-trained and a much better leash dog than the ever-enthusiastic Kona. Just this past week, Lani and Kona, while on a hike with Dawn, spotted a couple of deer. Boom! Off they went after the deer. Dang, if they almost caught those deer! Kona's in tip top shape and quite the runner, but Lani held her own. It was close. Lani ended up in the overgrown dry creek bed, in stuck in a mass of thorn bushes. She stood still and wouldn’t budge, although there wasn’t a scratch on her, she isn’t a risk taker.  As Kona watched, Dawn had to go in after Lani, scratching up her legs while stomping down all the bushes to clear a path before Lani would exit. The 'Noble One' indeed.

So, this is the tale of Lani Kai. An abandoned, unwanted puppy rescued by an elderly couple until tragedy struck and now a welcomed member of our family. A tear comes to my eye every time I think of what she has been through in her short, almost five years. Yup, me, the leaky one. She just wants to love and be loved; don’t we all?  And isn’t it karma how the people (and pets) who are supposed to love one another seem to find each other, even if sometimes their paths take some time to cross?

Mahalo for flying with Captain Bobby Mitchel