By Janet McAfee
We dogs in the rural Coachella Valley suffered horribly in the blazing summer of 2025. We huddled together to find shade as the temperature soared to over 120 degrees. I was hungry and covered in ticks.
My human was kind, but his family struggled to feed themselves. One day we went to the local market where kind people were giving out free dog and cat food. They saw the ticks on me and helped us get medication. One day my owner moved away and left me with a neighbor who could not take care of me.
In July, the neighbor took me to the store where they were distributing pet food. They saw how thin and sick I looked. I used all my strength to jump into the car with Jen and Jan sensing that good things were ahead. The nice women were volunteers with Loving All Animals. We drove to a building where people in white coats said I had infected ears and Ehrlichia from ticks. They said I looked about 1-yr-old. Next, we drove to a nice home with a fenced yard and barking dogs inside. I met Brad, my foster Dad.
I was sick and barely able to eat. Brad took me to a local veterinarian several times where they gave me tests and medication for a parasite called Giardia. Loving All Animals paid my expensive bill.
Life was good at Brad’s. I got healthy and enjoyed playing with his dogs. We went to the KESQ television station where I was introduced on Eye on the Desert. Valerie the dog trainer was there, but I’m very smart and didn’t need much training. No one called to adopt me.
Everyone at adoption events wanted a small dog, and I now weighed 110 pounds! I greeted everyone and laid on my back for belly rubs. They didn’t realize how wonderful, smart, gentle and protective big dogs can be.
In March 2026, Brad wrote a letter about me to friends who adopted a foster dog from him 10 years ago. Laurrie and Scott asked him to bring me to their ranch in Yucaipa to see if I got along with their animals.
I happily ran toward Laurrie and Scott. They had 2 other dogs, ducks, fish, horses, chickens, and 28 spayed and neutered cats. There was a large lake, and I swam for the first time. I miss Brad, but I’m very happy on this 68-acre ranch.
Laurrie said, “Cobi walked on grass in amazement like he’d never seen it before. He’s fascinated by the fish and ducks in the lake. My Dad Scott said, “Cobi sits on a boulder in the lake to be near the ducks. I call him Walter since he reminds me of the actor Walter Matthau.” We dogs go for rides in the Jeep Ranger. Every day is an adventure for me surrounded by happy animals and my loving humans.
More fosters and volunteers are needed so please apply at www.lovingallanimals.org. You can also donate there to help save more homeless animals like me.
janetmcafee8@gmail.com
