25 Rescue Dogs’ Cross-Country Caravan from A temporary fence needed to be set up at each pit stop
with 25 dogs involved. There were the inevitable stops for dog-walking, dogfeeding, and people-feeding as well as the need for drivers to sleep. However, David Rosenfelt documents it all with great humor in his book, Dogtripping: 25 Rescues, 11 Volunteers, and 3 RVs on Our Canine Cross-Country Adventure, a truly fun read. In an interview with Bark magazine, Rosenfelt was asked what he would do differently about the trip: “What would I do differently? I don’t think anything. We had a great group of volunteers. If everybody else had their option, they Kate Kelly would’ve done much the same; [they just should have] left me at home. They literally say it was one of the greatest hat do you do if you run a dog adventures of their lives. It was just terrescue operation near Los Angeles and rible, but everyone else loved it.” want to move to Maine—with the dogs? Maybe you do what David Rosenfelt and The Rescue Dog Life Began with a Date Rosenfelt’s dog adventure began with a his wife, Debbie Myers, did. After spending months puzzling through date. He had plans to go to a movie with the challenge of transferring their 25 a woman to whom he had recently been dogs—many of which had health prob- introduced. After the movie, David suglems or were too old to be adopted by gested dinner. His date, Debbie Myers, others–they ultimately rented three RVs demurred as she needed to go home and and welcomed 11 wonderfully willing put eye drops in her dog’s eyes. Between the two of them, they finalvolunteers to help with the dogs. Their intention was to “drive straight through” ly resolved to have dinner, meeting 45 minutes post-eye drops. The dog in quesas much as they possibly could. Of course, not all could go as planned tion, Tara, was a golden retriever whom Rosenfelt was soon to meet and also fall in love with. Soon Rosenfelt and Myers became a couple and Tara became the dog they both adored. About a year later, Tara was diagnosed with cancer. It was a terrible day in the household. Debbie and David helped Tara live comfortably for as long as she could. When she died it was a total heartbreak. Rosenfelt and Myers were at a loss as to what to do. Getting another dog right away didn’t feel right to Debbie, but they wanted a way to fill the hole in their hearts. A friend suggested they volunteer at the animal shelters around Los Angeles. After work and on weekends, the couple helped out at several different shelters. They knew their work was important, but they also knew that so many animals needed even more help. Debbie determined it was time for a new plan. She was still working full time at a major ad agency, but together with David, they formed the Tara Foundation to try to help place more animals. Because of Tara, they were willing to rescue any golden retriever they heard about that was at risk of being euthanized, but they also had a soft spot for the older dogs or those with health problems that are hard to place. Because they wanted those dogs to live out the end of their lives feeling loved Summer 2022
L.A. to Maine W
On the Road
34 4 Legs & a Tail
