This is Lazarus, and he is to be the newest addition to my spotted family.

I first saw this photo of this one year old liver male on May 16, 2000. He was in the SEACC shelter in the Los Angeles California area...and this is known to be one of the worst shelters in the LA area, with a very high kill rate. I fell in love as soon as I saw him. He looks like a mirror image of my shelter rescued Derby.

I could not get him out of my mind, and I knew that dogs in the Southern California area are always in grave danger of being put to sleep. There are far too many Dals, not enough homes, and foster homes in Dal rescue are always filled to capacity.

I knew someone who was hoping for a liver male Dalmatian here, but they recently found a pup....and they took in a littermate as a rescue too. Still, I knew this dog, #16601, had to be spoken for or he was doomed. I showed his photo on my Dal Rescue list to the other human members here in my family...my son (of course!) thought he was a great dog. George, too, thought he was nice but said we needed to get down to five dogs. (I can't imagine such a small pack number and told him I was NOT a "five-dog" person!!)

I couldn't let him go. I emailed my fellow Dal lover and rescuer there, and told him that if he were pulled, I would take him. She said that she would do what she could.

Gail sent me an email on Saturday morning. Sadly, she told me that this dog was already gone. He had come up for adoption on Friday, May 19, and when she called the shelter, he was said to killed. He'd been put down Friday night.

Needless to say, we were both heartbroken. Gail told me that she was able to pull a Dal named Wylie, from the West LA shelter, but the other one that she fell for (much as I did for #16601) was put down too.

Gail mentioned the unfairness of #16601's demise on one of her rescue lists. She told them how he HAD a home, but his time was so short that he lost his life before something could be said.

One of the women on the list was on the phone with the assistant manager, a wonderful man named Carl, at the time..and she (admitting to being "chatty") said something to him. He told her to hang on, he'd check...and came back to say that the liver boy I had fallen in love with was NOT dead, but was still there!!

I got a joyous email from Gail letting me know that "my" boy was still there, stil in the shelter, still very much alive!! I think we both wept with joy! I know my own tears of joy were flowing heavily. I had been so down since getting the news earlier in the day about his death.

It was going to happen..#16601 was going to be coming HOME. I had to give him a name, as "#16601" would simply not do, nor would "the liver boy". The one name that popped immediately into my mind was "Lazarus"...as the Biblical Lazarus was raised from the dead.

I needed to let George and Glen (my 11 year old animal loving son) know. Of course, Glen's first comment was that our "next" dog was supposed to be a Pug as he has longed for one...and then, he said that Derby (my other liver male rescue Dal) would be his and his alone. I told him when he grows up, he can have as many Dalmatians as he wanted...we compromise and share the dogs. They all do love him.

I had to break the news to George.

I told him, "Lazarus was raised from the dead."

He laughed and said, "Lazarus was raised 2000 years ago!"(George is a bit of a Bible scholar and has been doing translation work on some of the New Testament from the original Greek.)

I said, "No, the Dal I wanted that was put down. He's alive."

George said, "Good, I'm glad."

Then, I took a deep breath, and said, "He'll be here next week."

He laughed... A few minutes later, I asked Glen if he wanted to go with me next week to pick him up.

George asked if Gail had named him, and I told him no, that the name popped into my head when I found out he was still alive. He asked when I found out, as I think he thought I knew this for a while. I told him I just found out the day before.

Then, I started crying, and telling him about the Rancho Girl... and how we try and try to save them, that Lazarus would be dead too if Gail hadn't said something on her California Rescue list, that someone double checked to find he was still there. I couldn't stop crying about the ones that are lost.

He said that they'll all die, eventually. That we can't ever save the all. I said that I KNEW there are too many Dals and we can't save them all. I just couldn't stop crying. I told him he was a starfish..that we can only save so many. He hadn't heard of or didn't remember that story, so I told him. And, he just wrapped his arms around me and let me sob. And sob I did! Deva and Derby and Nell and Fannie were crowded around, like they always do when Mom is upset..trying to tell me "it's okay, Mom!"

So, he is fine with it. I think he knows better than to put his foot down. (I did promise no more...and I will try to stick to that promise!)

Lazarus Goes Hollywood!!!!!! (May 22, 2000)

Gail informed me that Lazarus would be staying for three days with a woman who is getting into rescue in the HOLLYWOOD HILLS! He will be staying in a penthouse condo, with a rescue border collie, a pet shop Golden and another short-term foster Golden Retriever. His foster mom is woman who used to be on "Good Morning America" and is now getting involved with rescue. My Lazarus is going Hollywood!! (He is already gathering a fan base, and he is not yet out of the shelter! The news that he was saved has given hope and happiness to many shelter workers and rescuers...who get so disheartened with the numbers that do NOT find homes. They all love happy endings!

(Tuesday, May 23)

I have heard from Brandi, another rescuer, that Lazarus is out of the shelter and is safe! He is to be neutered on Thursday, and will soon be on his way up here. I can barely sleep, and we are counting down the days til his arrival in Seattle, where I will be picking him up. I sure hope he won't miss sunny Southern California too much.

Lazarus is safely tucked away in foster care! (May 25)

This is the first picture I have seen of Laz, taken today, after he was on his way to his foster mom. He was neutered earlier today, and is safely out of the shelter.

I am so in love with him. I can almost feel the silkiness of those ears, and I can barely wait to feel his kisses! What beautiful green eyes he has. They melt my heart!

I should point out that today was Gail's fourth wedding anniversary. She should have been having a romantic dinner with her husband, and not fighting LA traffic to pick up Lazarus. She was unable to get him released early, but still gave up her time to pick him up today. This is one very dedicated lady!

Perhaps I will just share Gail's telling of his retrieval, in her own words:

Well, I got home about an hour ago from picking up Lisa's Lazarus in Downey. The poor little guy is the skinniest Dal I've ever sprung, and there've been some awfully skinny ones. Not only that, but he was absolutely terrified. His tail was so far between his legs it disappeared altogether.

Tracy (and 3 year old Olivia) went down with me to get him. I managed to get him out of the shelter (I kept telling him he didn't want to go back in there!) but it's clear that "outside" is VERY scary. He calmed down once he was in Tracy's truck (jumped right in the back and settled down). But when we got to Chantal's, he didn't want to get out and didn't want to go on the grass, etc. He tried to crawl UNDERNEATH a car like a cat would.

Once inside Chantal's condominium, he calmed right down (and of course, because he was just neutered this morning, immediately started trying to hump her two girl dogs). Chantal cooed to him and fed him a bit of yogurt and some water. He was MUCH better. But she raised a good point - is he in any condition to travel 1,000 miles day after tomorrow? She graciously offered to keep him until the following weekend, to fatten him up and calm his fears.

This weekend is proving to be very difficult in putting together a run. It is Memorial Day weekend, and no one wants to (nor should they!) be traveling if it is not necessary. Lazarus is not making the journey north alone, as he is going to be accompanied by two more liver dal boys, who were pulled from a shelter on their last day! as well as a 12 week old, deaf, 35 pound Great Dane pup. It would be a very stressful trip, especially on one of the busiest holiday weekends. So, it looks like his trip HOME will be postponed for another week, which he could use for some tender loving care and R&R.

Chantal will be fattening him up and I know he is in some very loving and capable hands. I am continually amazed at the feats of dog lovers for these rescued dogs. (see Newflash below!)

This is an email from his wonderful foster Mom:

your pooch is doing great coming off the drugs ... and is really adorable.
he wants so much to do the right thing and keeps looking at my two mutts ... to see what is the proper way of doing things ... after a long walk he promptly came in- and peed on my living room floor.
we had a firm chat.
i must tell you- he really is beautiful ... when i was walking him tonight, a woman came up-- and i said he was a rescue ... and she said "I'll take him "
sorry. he's got a home...
but just so you know- he's a real winner.
I'll take good care of him.... but he wants his mom.
best.
chantal

I expect to be hearing more about how Lazarus does in the next week. I hope that putting the run together to get him and his fellow rescued travelers goes smoothly, and quickly! I am counting down the days until his journey north.

Dulcie's disappearance opened up so many doors for me. Not only was it her disappearance over three years ago that got me involved in Dalmatian Rescue, and the fight against pet theft, but I have been very blessed with so much more. I have received countless emails of concern and condolences on her loss, and many encouraging emails to never give up hope. She has raised awareness of how easily our pets can leave us unexpectedly, and she has inspired untold numbers of people to adopt Dals in need of homes, and more than a few people have gotten involved in rescue because of her story.

Dulcie's loss brought Deva into my life, even though I did not want another Dalmatian...I only wanted my dear Dulcie back where she belonged! Dulcie was the one who nudged me to adopt Fannie, to do whatever it took to gain Nell's trust when she was abandoned along the highway. She nudged me to adopt Derby, too, and now Lazarus. Fannie's transport inspired the formation of SPOTS, (Spots 'n' Pals Overland Transport Service) which was originally put together to help rescue Dals get to their new homes and shortly thereafter, was expanded to help any rescued dog (as long as they are rescues and they are spayed/neutered!)

While I still hope to find Dulcie, or get that awful rumor of her death confirmed, she continues to live in my heart and to show how truly blessed and wonderful dog people can be!

Please, before you adopt any dog, research the breeds you are interested in. Please, check your local and statewide shelters, as there are purebred dogs who need families of their own..their only alternative is the needle or the gas chamber! Don't wait...it may be too late for some dog every bit as sweet as Lazarus, as Fannie, as Nell, Deva, Derby, or my once in a lifetime dog, Dulcie. And please, spay or neuter your pets!

NEWSFLASH!
Saturday, May 27

Things changed yet again...the run is ON today, and Lazarus will be coming home this Sunday night!

My, things change quickly in the world of rescue and transportation! Lazarus was doing well, and is healthier and stronger than first thought. It was decided that he would be okay for traveling, and after much trepidation, all the legs for this journey were filled in at the last minute.

This run is amazing...there are numerous dogs being transported and transferred on this run, to both foster homes and permanent homes. Dals, Danes, deaf dogs, a chihuahua and a Lhasa Apso are all being transported.. Click HERE for details about this fantastic journey for a large number of dogs...and a special dedication.

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