My Best Friend

If you’ve been a reader of my blog then you know that my dog Willis has been the light of my life for the last fourteen-plus years. For his back story you can read the story of Willis from 2013. Sadly, that light went out on Monday when Willis became a true angel.



Above is the couple I will be forever indebted to, as they fostered this little two-month-old puppy and trusted us to raise him. Below is Peticures by Tess, who took care of Willis’ grooming needs from day one. She was much more than just a groomer; she adored Willis, spoke AND listened to him, and gave him the best personalized care you could ask for. This was a personal loss for her, as well.



The most recent part of Willis’ team was Pawsitive Vibes San Diego. When Willis’ original doggy daycare went out of biz, I was panicked. Who could walk him during the day while I was at work and give him the care and attention he required? Serendipity stepped in and I saw their flyer posted in the neighborhood. After our meet-and-greet, I knew that Paige and Bryan were the ones.



They gave Willis the best walks, took photos of him (damn good ones, too!), and even showered him with birthday gifts. Their love of dogs made me immediately bond with them.



Last but definitely not least, Willis LOVED Dexter’s Deli in North Park. I could not say the name in front of him as he understood it and would immediately run to the front door. The little booger galloped at a brisk pace until we reached the destination which was 1.2 miles away. He knew the route by heart; I didn’t have to steer him at all. I always knew that if for some reason he got away, I would most likely have been able to find him at Dexter’s. They gave him treats and had the best selection of supplies, toys, and all things doggie. When it was time to leave the shop, he would lock his paws into defiance mode and I would have to drag him unwillingly across the polished concrete floor.



Willis also frequented Station Tavern in South Park. The tater tots served there were a favorite. Pizza and tater tots were the two things that he would beg for. If those two food items were put into the microwave, he stared at me until he received his portion.



The breakfast nook was his command central. He would nap here but also watch the neighborhood, which gave him easy visual access to when the mail lady would make her deliveries. He would dash to the front door, paws sliding on the hardwood floors as he barked ferociously at the mail falling onto the floor from the slot in the wall. If I was out when it came, Heaven forbid if it was a check or something valuable; it was typically torn to pieces in his angry rage at the invasion to his home.



My friend Matt had the distinction of being the one person that Willis knew by name. Whenever I would speak it, his ears would pop up and the tail would start wagging. Matt met him before Willis had turned one and they have stayed close friends ever since. I knew that if Willis liked a person, they must be okay. The people he did not respond to or growled at…well, usually he was spot-on in his assessment.



Willis traveled with me to the Chateau Marmont almost every time I visited my favorite spot on earth. It was pretty much the only place he spent the night at besides our home. The bacon was his favorite part of staying there. Below is a shot from his first visit there in 2013:



On the balcony of the Penthouse with my bestie, Christy:



A trio of favorite shots of Willis at the Chateau, ever alert, ever by my side.



He was such a good poser, too. The guy never took a bad photo.



I also want to thank VCA Animal Hospital in Hillcrest for the excellent care they gave Willis throughout his lifetime, especially at the end when I was a complete basket case. They could not have been any kinder. The one consolation for me is knowing that Doug is now taking good care of Willis on the other side. My journey with Willis was way too short, but I am still grateful for every day that I had with him; wouldn’t trade a single moment. I learned more about love and communication from that sweet little creature than I have from any one or thing that has crossed my path.



While I believe time heals all wounds, this one is going to be hard.

See more of my photography at my main website.

Merry Christmas 2017!

For all those who celebrate, Merry Christmas! This is definitely my favorite photo from 2017, showcasing my little angel asleep at the Chateau. He and I have the same tastes!

See more photos at my main website.

Chilling at the Chateau

My favorite place to get away from it all is The Chateau Marmont. No surprise to my faithful readers. Willis and I packed our bags for a little R&R and headed up to the beautiful hotel on Sunset Boulevard.



Willis has been there enough that he knows where he's going once we arrive. Run up the stairs to the lobby…



and then up two more flights for Room 34.



Couldn't think of a better space to just breathe.



Willis loves the comfortable furniture.



The roses in the room were gorgeous, too.



Willis wasn't too thrilled about them; he would have rather had a biscuit.



He does like the cashmere blanket on the bed, though. Mercifully, he did not chew it up. That would have cost me a small fortune.



View from the room during the daytime…



and how Sunset Boulevard looks at night…or was it early morning? Hell, I can't remember.



Taking Willis for a walk in the unseasonable stifling heat, we encountered this vintage Thunderbird.





Get a load of those fins!



Willis didn't care; he missed the air conditioning.



The pool area is very zen.



LOVE this moroccan light fixture.



Willis rested while I did my laps.



And then he positioned himself between my legs when I was done.



It was a very good weekend. Just what the doctor ordered. If only the doctor covered it, too.

More Chateau Marmont at my main website.

The Story of Willis

Since a few of my readers have commented on Willis, I decided to share his story with the rest of you.

This month, my pet turns two. At the time he came into my life, I was still telling people that there was no way I could take on the responsibility of owning a dog. I had grown up with dogs and loved them dearly, but with my schedule, I didn't think that I'd be able to find the time to properly care for one.

And then I saw the email with Willis' photo (seen above).

It wasn't just his expressive eyes and cute floppy ears that got to me; it was his story that moved me to say "yes." Found in a city near the border, he was only about two months old. He had been wandering the streets with another dog who had become the victim of a hit and run. Willis curled up with his dear lost friend, refusing to budge. Covered in fleas, he protectively growled at his future rescuer, allowing him to approach only when he was bribed with a leftover piece of pizza. Fortunately, this man and his wife are passionate about animals and were well versed in fostering them until they were able to find a permanent home. The email that they sent had a photo of him curled up in the street with his dead friend. Absolutely heartbreaking.

Even though I had seen countless emails showing dogs that needed homes, this particular one hit me like a ton of bricks, and before I knew it, Willis had moved into Daveland. Here's one of the first photos I took of him.



Flash forward two years, and you can see Willis in all his glory, dressed up for his first Black Tie Event, the Humane Society's Black Tie Ball.





Willis' debut on the red carpet:



The band Haute Chile entertained at the gala:



I had to take a photo of this couple, even though I didn't know them. I thought I was crazy about my pet...it would appear that I pale in comparison to this duo.



Willis was very well-behaved, earning his share of attention and treats.



Here are the Belle and the Beau of the Ball; obviously, Willis had not been entered, otherwise, he would have been on the stage instead.



The chocolate dessert (which Willis could not partake in), from Pamplemousse Grille in Solana Beach.



The Live Auction brought a lot of money in for the Humane Society; items on the block included a $12,000 Birkin Bag.



In the past, I was intent on (one day) getting a pure bred...one that wouldn't shed and had a mild temperament. Thanks to Willis, my priorities have greatly shifted, and I couldn't imagine adopting a pet anywhere other than from a foster home or the Humane Society. There are so many wonderful pets to be found there that it would be out of the question for me to look anywhere else.

See more of my photography on my main website.