Grant and I lost our beloved Ava to kidney failure on August 15, 2019. We are still trying to cope with this painful loss, as she was a central figure in our lives. Ava was my joy, attached to my side for the last four years. We would joke that Ava and Grant were kindred spirits with a deep love of food, frequent naps on the couch, and leisurely walks.
She had a miraculous journey to reach our family. She was found by the roadside in Tijuana, completely emaciated and thought to be dead. West Coast Animal Rescue of Long Beach, led by Sherri Stankewitz, spent 6 months reviving her and caring for her. Then, Sherri’s selfless rescue work was honored by a local television show Prank It Forward (you can find the episode on YouTube – it’s quite heartwarming). One of the “prizes” was that they found homes for all of her dogs. Her senior dogs, including Ava, were taken in by Muttville, led by Sherri Franklin, to be adopted in the Bay Area.
Grant and I were finally ready to welcome a new dog in October 2015, after having lost our Copper of 15 years. We arranged to meet with Ava’s awesome foster mom at Muttville headquarters, took one leisurely walk around the block, and knew we wanted to take Ava home with us. There was a potential snag – another family had an appointment to meet with Ava, but the amazing Sherri Franklin saw how quickly we were bonding with Ava and made an exception for us.
We are so grateful to all these people whose inspiring work brought Ava into our lives and into our hearts. Although we are grieving, Grant and I consider ourselves so lucky to have enjoyed four wonderful years with Ava, our miracle dog.
Jessica & Grant
12/25/19
