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Ellie McElvain

@elliemce

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A local hero!

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Thrilled to announce my foster Zuzu has officially been adopted… by me!! (I know)

First photo is when I took her into the yard at the South LA shelter. She didn’t want to run around or play, she just crawled into my lap for comfort. The volunteer asked me if I wanted to adopt her right then. I was like, no, no, I’m not ready for adoption, I just foster. All I knew was I had to take her home. I told my friends - this one will get adopted so fast - I didn’t think I’d even have her for the holidays.

Losing Lola so unexpectedly was awful and left this giant hole in my heart, sometimes I thought I could physically feel it, the absence of her was so palpable. So I started to bandaid it over by fostering. I wasn’t ready, I couldn’t be any dog’s person, Lola still felt like my dog — but I wasn’t doing well without a dog either. To avoid adopting before I was ready I made a list of everything I wanted in my next dog. This list was long, and specific, and basically detailed a mythologically, impossibly perfect dog, one with the temperament and good behavior of a Westminster show dog but with none of the time and money spent to get there. All the things I tell people to never expect of any dog much less rescues who have all kinds of delightful and challenging traits to discover.

But then here was Zuzu. She’s the hottest night club in town, she has everything, leash skills, dog friendly, kid friendly, cuddle bug, she fetches the ball AND she brings it back. She drops it when I say “release” - I didn’t teach her that! I wouldn’t know how! It’s crazy! She prances like a baby deer and her head is soft like velvet and she grumbles when it’s dinner time and she sits like a weirdo and she magically wakes me up at 7:30 am on the dot without saying a word and she has a paintbrush tail and and and. And on the day I felt it, the “I think this is my dog” lightning strike moment, a beautiful little Anna’s hummingbird dive bombed right in front of my face and perched on the lemon tree I was next to. I’m a sentimental woo woo sign-loving freak since Lola died, but I knew it was her telling me to go for it.

So I did. Welcome home Zuzubee. I’m so damn lucky. by @elliemce

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8 months ago

I’m different now; I’m a woman who went to Italy. taken in Rome, Italy by @elliemce

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18 days ago

I had an absolute blast bothering everyone on set for a higher purpose (social media content for @theshardsfx). The cast and crew are lovely and generous and frequently genius! Shoutout @ricegoeswild, you are also a genius. I lost one (1) fingernail but gained… so much! taken in MOONLIGHT ROLLERWAY by @elliemce

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2 months ago

Update: Adopted!!!!

Roxie was rescued from SEACCA by @itsyogishouse when she was euthanasia listed for space ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. She’s a senior that is full of verve and vigor — no walk is too long for her! When you’re home, she settles right in as the dreamiest lapdog on the planet. She’s an 8-10 year old 12 pound terrier mix, with a darling curly little pug tail, who is house broken, kid friendly, dog friendly, and cat tested! Get in touch if you’re interested in giving Roxie her best forever home! She is available in Los Angeles. #fosterdog #seniordog #dogrescue taken in Los Angeles, California by @elliemce

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3 months ago

UPDATE: Adopted!!!
Brandi is THE DREAM! She’s the ultimate go anywhere dog. Calm and well behaved, but still wiggly and playful and fun! She is cuddly and affectionate, but can chill at home and snooze. Dog friendly, people friendly, kid friendly etc! She is adoptable in Los Angeles through Frankie Lola and Friends — apply to meet her today! @lisachiarelli taken in Los Angeles, California by @elliemce

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3 months ago

An incomplete July-October wrap up featuring three foster successes, Chicago, New York, a half dozen road trips to Lancaster Animal Shelter, my beautiful friends, and the best concert I’ve attended in years. I have included three videos from the cheap seats of the Lorde show because it’s what I’ll have to pass down to my grandchildren one day, in lieu of property. Comment ur fave foster dog below I miss them👇 taken in Los Angeles, California by @elliemce

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a year ago

Happy gotcha day for the dog formerly known as Macho! His new name is Zotz
- inspired by the ancient Mayan bat-god Camazotz - which is extremely metal and so cool. His new dad loved him at first sight, and is bringing him into a family who will be able to shower love and attention and care onto him. Fostering continues to be such a gift, and such a balm as I continue to grieve the loss of my Lola. I’m always so sad on the day of the adoption, but so at peace knowing I got them to their forever family. What kind of dog will I foster next!? taken in Los Angeles, California by @elliemce

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a year ago

Thank you to everyone who loved the dog formerly known as Dolly. She is now thriving adjusting to her life with her amazing adopters and her forever family name is POPPY! I couldn’t believe it when they told me that was what they landed on. Not only is where she was found (antelope valley) famous for its California poppy super blooms, but they also happen to be one of my all time favorite flowers, and I have a lot of California poppy trinkets and art in my home. I’ll be able to think of her when I’m amongst the poppies in my own garden and I love that!

I’m glad my Lola pushed me to foster again and I’m so glad to know her. Thanks to everyone who helped! Shout out @tesstifybarker and Jesse @pawsitive_inn and @lisachiarelli and of course the super volunteers @bibbleynn and @rita_earl_blackwell and everyone at @lancasteranimalslaco who are doing incredible stuff day in and day out for overlooked dogs in LA county shelters.

If you loved Poppy’s /Dolly’s story please consider donating any small amount to @dogcoalitionla to help Sonia, another sweetie pie bully, who has medical needs! taken in Los Angeles, California by @elliemce

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a year ago

We did it — and then some! 🎉 This August, we set out to reach 300 adoptions for #CleartheShelters… and thanks to all of YOU, we surpassed that goal!

Our 300th adoption was extra special 😍🤩 Lola, a volunteer and staff favorite who was out of time, found her miracle thanks to foster @elliemce a repeat hero who opened her home and captured Lola’s heart in videos so full of love that a family drove all the way from Utah to adopt her. ❤️

Through all the challenges and heartbreak, stories like Lola’s are what keep us inspired. We’re sooooooo grateful to every person who adopts, fosters, and shares our dogs — and thanks to our incredible staff who went above and beyond every single day to make 🙌

🏡 Address: 5210 West Ave. I, Lancaster, CA 93536
⏰ Open: Monday - Saturday, 11 AM - 5 PM
📧 Email: ACCLancaster@animalcare.lacounty.gov
📧 Rescue Email: DACCLancasterRescue@animalcare.lacounty.gov
☎️ Phone: 661-974-8358 or 661-940-4191

#adopt #adoptdontshop #rescuedogs #rescuedogsofinstagram #shelterdogs #shelterdogsofinstagram #adoptla #losangeles #dogsofinstagram #dogsofig #dogstagram #fyp #explore #love #lancaster #cleartheshelters #doglife #doglover #doglovers #rescue #shelterpet taken in Lancaster, California by @elliemce

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a year ago

Yesterday, I made the agonizing call to let go of Lola, after trying everything possible to keep her, and I don’t believe life will ever be the same. At the very end, I promised her that I’d be okay, so as such, I have to be.

This all happened so fast, and I could not have gone through any of it without the overwhelming and immediate tsunami of support from everyone in our life - my best friends by my side, friends from current and past lives, and some people I’ve never met but would die for now I guess. The love from near and afar was so, so palpable, and helped me face the impossible.

Loving Lola defined me. My constant punchline was - “She’s the best best dog in the world - except when she’s bad”. I’d like to update that to say that she was the best dog in the world *because* of when she was bad. She loved the people in her life so so big that she never figured out that other dogs (or cats, or lizards, or certain public statues) were not a threat to her family, and was ready to throw down for our honor at any given moment. I always lamented that she couldn’t speak English so I could let her know how safe we were from these supposed threats — instead, I built a life for us where she didn’t have to worry so much, full of people who loved her at first sight. She was the favorite dog of several avowed “non dog people” and an immediate hit in every room of strangers.

She was simply my best friend. I could let hours pass avoiding responsibility because she snuggled into the crook of my arm just so, and listening to her snore was better than anything else I could be getting up to. I found us a home with a giant yard she could run around in safely, her own private park, and after snuffling through bushes and chasing lizards she would always come back to me, sit, listen to the birds, watch the sun set from our favorite stump.

I’m so grateful for our last day. She got to see almost all her favorite people, gobbled down half a Walt’s hotdog, and went to town on some peanut butter. In the end, she did her last job, kissing my tears away, and I did my last job, being with her until the very end.

I love you forever Lola. by @elliemce

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a year ago

Thanks to @chrissybru and @rumlunch for being the key components to the wildest and craziest party of my dumb life!!!! Thanks to all my friends!!!! Thanks to people who came who I did not know!!! The party themed party was everything I dreamed it could be!!! The cops did come at the very end and they were actually not that mad by @elliemce

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a year ago

My grid posts are no longer subject to the hegemony of the Western Gregorian Calendar, I am not tied to time and space like all of you, and I’ll never die! Please look at my beautiful life though please please!! by @elliemce

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2 years ago