Altadena is dogtown I: Catching up with Rudy, who's still looking for a home

by Timothy Rutt

Rudy the rescued pooch is well-cared for, but still looking for a place to call his own.

There's been so much dog activity this week, we thought we'd catch up with the saga of Rudy.

We told the story of the the seven-year-old pitbull/Rhodesian ridgeback mix last spring and summer.  Rudy was an emaciated, worm-ridden sad sack dumped in the Chaney Trail neighborhood in May. Concerned neighbors managed to round him up and found he was loving and had a great personality.  He was reluctantly sent to the county's animal shelter at Baldwin Park, but with full confidence that such a handsome lad would be adopted out soon.

But that was not to be -- he was slated to be put down.  They bargained a few more days of life for him, and the combined action of two Altadena Bonnies -- Bonny Shumaker of the rescue group On Wings of Care, and Bonnie Barron, bailed him out in time.

Barron, who already has enough dogs at home, arranged for him to get medical care, neutering, and kenneled him.  Some of the expense comes out of her own pocket, and some of it comes from contributions to On Wings of Care.  In August, they were still looking for him to be fostered or adopted.

And that hasn't changed. Bonnie Shumaker says that Rudy continues to be in a cage-free kennel, and Bonnie Barron still takes him out every day.  He's gotten close to adoption, but they've always pulled out at the end.  Bonnie Barron writes;

 I've attached Rudy's latest flyer. He does great with kids as you can see from the photos from Altadena's Farmer's Market (we frequent every Wed.). He now weighs a healthy 75 lbs & just got a complete check-up with lab/urinalysis w/ bladder scan & everything came out perfect!  I usually take him to my backyard in the evening to romp around for an hour or two which he enjoys. He gets his routine massage (focus to hips) every night on his memory foam twin mattress before bed in a  small bedroom size private room with fan, radio, toys, water, etc. ... I plan to start going out to west side for rescue/adoption events since people there appear to be more amenable to Pit mixes.

When WILL this dog get his happy ending and forever home?  Contact bebarron55@sbcglobal.net if you can help. Rudy's flyer is after the jump.