Any person talking to experienced Leonberger owners has heard the saying "you can't have just one". We had been Leo owners for a year or two by then. Watching our Lutra grow and mature, we realized they're right. We decided rather than get a puppy, we'd put an application in with LeoRescue. Mark and I both work in animal health care and live on a lake in the middle of the woods. We could provide a wonderful home for an older dog with special needs that might be otherwise hard to place. We were also aware LeoRescue wasn't like some other rescue organization that have dogs available at all times. It says a lot to the integrity of Leonberger lovers that LeoRescue has sporadic availability of dogs. It also says a lot about LeoRescue. Rescue works very hard at matching the dog with the right new home. Rescue isn't just about taking a dog and putting somewhere else. It has to a compatible somewhere else or the dog will be bounced back into Rescue. That outcome is hard on the dog as well as everyone involved.

We started shopping for new vehicle to fit a new dog somewhere in the distant future. We had thought we'd be waiting on the list for a while. Within a few short weeks, Martha (Kalina) & Linda (Spirio) (the founders of Leonberger Rescue - ed.) approached by us regarding Kyoak. Ky didn't fit our older pet criteria, but he still did need medical attention. He also needed a more structured home without the chaos of kids. We decided to take a chance, knowing we would be unable to take another Rescue for a while. In a few days, we were driving to MN to meet a plane loaded with our 13-month old CA boy. Within a short time, we couldn't remember life before Ky.

Ky blossomed as he learned to share his life with our Leo Lutra. The difference is very noticeable. Ky continued to enrich our lives. He even took second place in the Spay/Neuter class at the 2001 National Specialty in Delavan, WI. He was beat out by ANOTHER LeoRescue, Bentley.

When we were asked to be regional representatives for LeoRescue in the fall of 2001, we jumped at the opportunity to help more Leos and their people be as happy as we'd become.

Around Thanksgiving 2002, word came out in LR, an older Leo with special needs may be coming into Rescue. How ironic. This was the EXACT scenario we had in mind when we filled out our Rescue Application years ago. Now we were on the INSIDE of LeoRescue trying to find a home for her.

We all worked very hard at trying to find an appropriate home for Gila. She was having a hard time. She lost her Leo mom and Leo brother in June. Now six months later she was losing her human pack thru divorce. All efforts on the West coast came up empty. Our assigned region was next. We had a possible home in Missouri. While Don (James) was investigating that home, Mark & I were having looonnnnggg discussions about adding her to our home. Four dogs was over our self-imposed limit. Meanwhile, all efforts were coming up empty. When the Missouri home could no longer be contacted via info on the application, we felt it was a sign she was to be with us. On December 15th, Mark left to drive to Miles City, Montana to bring Gila home. Don had been successful in obtaining drivers to get her from her Redmond, Washington temporary foster home to Missoula, MT. Another incredible volunteer drove her from Missoula to Miles City where Mark picked her up.

December 17th Gila retired to her new home. The past year has been one of upheaval for her and her family. Gila's taken a little while to adjust, but doing well. Mark is trying to adjust, also. While doing the head count on our four, he always seems to think we are one short. (FIVE!? Whoa!)

Our lives have been truly blessed. We can't imagine our lives without The Two West Coast Wonders that LeoRescue generously brought into our lives. So when you're talking to Leo owners and you hear that saying "you can't have just one", remember that applies to rescue Leos, too!