From Homeless to Ranch Hand

Not every dog has a diary, but Adira isn’t every dog. Lauren Rick, the owner of Bone-A-Fide Dog Ranch, has a quirky sense of humor and excels at channeling Adira’s even quirkier personality.

“I have done many Google searches and I can’t find any dogs bred for ‘doggy daycare management’. How do we even know if I’m meant for this work? Lennon seems to be a natural so maybe he is a purebred.” — Adira

Lennon is an older dog and the current head ranch hand at Lauren’s popular doggy daycare and boarding facility in Snohomish. Adira is Lennon’s apprentice.

“From my perspective, Adira isn’t the only one in training. I’m learning to work with her as much as she is learning to work with me,” explains Lauren.

Adira can be found in her day job as a “Doggy Daycare Manager” at Bone-A-Fide Dog Ranch in Snohomish.

When Adira arrived at PAWS in search of a home, the two-year-old, medium-sized mixed breed wasn’t exactly ranch-ready. She had just endured several days of winter travel from Texas. Notes from the animal care staff at PAWS after her arrival read: “A little bit shy until she is comfortable in her surroundings but warms up very quickly into a social sweetheart.”

Meanwhile, Lauren and co-owner Randy Brians were contemplating the retirement of 14-year-old Lennon, also adopted from PAWS. After years of loyal service to the people and dogs of Bone-A-Fide, Lennon’s advanced age, tired joints and slower pace were telling signs that he’d like to retire to a life of leisure, napping and snacking the day away.

It was time to search for Lennon’s replacement. As longtime supporters, their first stop was PAWS. Their application called for an athletic dog, friendly with other dogs but also good with people, calm, and a no-nonsense style of taking charge when necessary. On any given day at Bone-A-Fide, Lauren and Randy are corralling dozens of dogs of all sizes, ages and temperaments. It takes a steady paw to keep order.

All work and no play? No way! Adira always finds time to enjoy the snow.

Not long after putting in her application, Lauren received a call from a PAWS adoption advisor to come meet Adira. Lauren said, “I had no idea what kind of a ranch hand she’d make but it was love at first sight and that was that.”

Lauren describes Adira’s apprenticeship as a process they are figuring out together. “Lennon has been so patient, but boy does he have moments when he looks at me as if to say, ‘Mom, can we please get on with my retirement?’”