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The Adventures of Skylar Grey

Chapter 4: Puppy kindergarten, here we come

The day I adopted Skylar Grey at San Francisco Animal Care and Control, executive director Rebecca Katz handed me a new puppy parent packet. As I skimmed through the various handouts, Rebecca said, “You should get her into puppy kindergarten, too.”

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Pets

The halo effect: How 20 years of giving turned Pet Food Express into an animal angel

In 2010, when the City once again slashed her already bare-bones budget, Rebecca Katz, San Francisco Animal Care and Control (ACC) executive director had no choice but to consider letting two people go from her already understaffed shelter. During one of their visits to ACC, Pet Food Express (PFE) co-owner Michael Levy and director of […]

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Jasmine Blue's Tails of the Dog Park

Special Edition: Honor Jazzy’s memory by helping the many animals in need

As summer turns to fall, Jazzy’s morning glory is once again winding up the white trellis in Kickie’s garden. It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since I lost Jasmine Blue to cancer.

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The Adventures of Skylar Grey

Chapter 5: Home alone

Is that a shadow — or a hole in the floor? And what’s that noise outside my door?? Home alone. On my own … and all alone … — “Home Alone 4,” by D-A-D The first time I went to SF Puppy Prep was also the first time I left the Itty Bitty Pittie home […]

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The Adventures of Skylar Grey

Chapter 6: Teacher’s pet

As we entered the classroom at SF Puppy Prep on the first day of kindergarten, Skylar Grey was excited to see other puppies but terrified to leave my side. I was trying to juggle her leash with one hand and hold a dog bed under my arm with the other.

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Pets

Give a dog a BarkBox, a unique gift that gives back

When I adopted Skylar Grey from San Francisco Animal Care and Control, she was 2 months old, 19 pounds, and, we think, had been living in a car with a kid who fed her French fries from the Dollar Menu at McDonald’s. A lot has changed in little over a year: Skylar is now 14 […]

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The Adventures of Skylar Grey

Chapter 7: Karma is a bitch named Skylar

On a June day in 2009, I called Steve. “Come over and meet my foster puppies,” I said. “It’s gorgeous out. We can sit in the garden and have cocktails.” When Steve arrived, there was a pitcher of martinis and three four-month-old pit bull mix sisters.