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Laura Garrick

@galgarrick

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Wife/mom/daughter/sister/friend, dog-lover & rescue advocate.But for God’s Grace. Diego 🐾10.16.21 Mellie’s mama forever 9.1.23🕊️🙏🏼🤍 Cat 🦋 11.26.25

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Cat Garrick “Bunny-Hopped” into our lives (and ultimately our hearts), on March 9 of 2025. She was Maxine at the Lancaster Shelter, yet another abandoned, scared, little senior dog. She came in with a tattered red bow in her hair, which made her sadder (someone loved her once); yet there she was, scheduled to be euthanized Monday, 3/10/25 in the morning.

I’d been looking for a way to honor Carmella (my heart dog); This sweet, little soul, frightened and destined to die in the shelter, seemed to be the perfect candidate… certainly she deserved another spin around the sun, a spot on our bed, in our home and a membership to our pack.

Cat had typical neglected senior dog issues, a mouthful of rotten teeth, incontinence and eye issues. She was under weight and had extreme weakness in her hindquarters.

Thankfully, @goldenyearsdogsanctuary got her urinary tract infection healed, so we could get her mouth addressed (every tooth was pulled), 💔 but Cat persevered! She was a brave, stoic little dog and her name was perfect, she never barked, she was quiet and gentle - a bit aloof - much like a cat (and similar in size).

Our friends @guidrysguardian supplemented her diet with amazing specialty foods, senior supplements, diapers & groomings… Our girl had her fresh start!

Tiny Cat “Catillian” was a force, blessed with incredible gumption (we called her the ever-ready bunny), always getting her steps in! We took her on trips to the South Bay to visit our son, went mini-golfing, had sushi, took her to picnics & bbqs and she was always a hit in our neighborhood because she liked all dogs.

Cat enjoyed car rides, long naps & walks, her hind legs had grown strong - she walked with a purpose all over our house! Spunky could have been her middle name! So when we signed her adoption paperwork on October 31st, it was clear, we were hers and she was ours 🐾♥️.

A few weeks ago I got Cat a new dog-tag in the shape of a star. She was our shining little star and for me CAT was the antidote to my broken heart (at least for a little while).

“Go Cat Go” walk your way right into Heaven. It was a privilege to have loved & cared for you.

Sleep Well, Sweet Soul 🤍🙏🏼 taken in Los Feliz by @galgarrick

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10 months ago

My Carmella - would’ve been 14 today. Not a day has passed since her death, when she hasn’t entered my mind - she lives forever pressed into my heart 💗🐾🌈

April 29, 2011 ~ September 1, 2023

#beloved #heaven #heartdog taken in Los Feliz by @galgarrick

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a year ago

A year ago today, our beloved Carmella went to @westlavca Cardiology – to have the TEER procedure (aka V-clamp); a course of action suggested by Dr. Allen, to reduce the amount of valve leakage she was experiencing due to her heart murmur. She was 12, otherwise healthy and I (we) wanted more time… much more.

Carmella – was the loveliest little dog, 11.5 pounds of fluff, with a wiggle when she walked that turned heads (dogs and humans) and a bit of sass! Her heart was big, her kisses (licks) were passionate, and she loved deeply. Carmella loved much bigger than her size.

So when, in the early afternoon of September 1st, the doctor told me that Carmella was “Passing” before my eyes, and she asked if I wanted to hold her… my heart fell and my throat released an inarticulate, mangled, tortured cry from deep inside my body. How could this be? She survived two heart surgeries in two days… my Mighty Mellie, she was so brave. Gone?

British actress Sue Perkins said it perfectly in a letter to her dog:
“I didn’t believe something as alive as you could ever succumb to something as ordinary as death.”

It has been a year of firsts, painful reminders, the first Halloween, Thanksgiving (we skipped Hanukkah and Christmas), the first birthday in Heaven…

I have mourned, grieved so hard for my little girl, I still am and it’s fine. I will allow myself every tear, every tightening in the chest because she was my everything. Carmella was our family dog. She was my soulmate.

There’s no loving the ones we lose back to life. I understand there are things that I will cling to my entire life – her memory is one of them. That licorice button nose, the post dinner carpet roll, the passionate face licks, the weight & feel of her head on my lap – the smell of her.

Dear Carmella:
Thank you for picking me. Us.
Thank you for teaching me patience & love in its purest form.
Thank you for healing my crushed soul and sharing your soul with me.
I love you. I hope I told you enough.
I love you. I love you. I love you.
Your light shines in my heart.
Mommy by @galgarrick

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2 years ago

by @galgarrick

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17 hours ago

I read a lot. I read a mix of subjects and genres. But I love to read about dogs.

This is one of my favorite books of 2026. All 14 short stories are beautifully written. Poignant, funny and sad… edited by Alice Hoffman @ahoffmanwriter 🤍

To my fellow dog lovers & book lovers ~ pick this one up! I guarantee you’ll return to these heartfelt stories again and again. And when Emily Henry writes about “the” dog - my heart caught in my throat because I knew…

My favorites:

🐾Oscar • by Paul Yoon
@paulyoon

🐾 Dottie • by Emily Henry
@emilyhenrywrites

🐾 Ninety-Nine • by Bonnie Garmus @bonnie_garmus_author

🐾 Eddie • by Ann Leary
@annleary

🐾 Houdini & Shelby • by Alice Hoffman (you got lucky twice).

Happy reading!
Happy autumn!
Happy dogs 🤍
🍁📚🦮📖👓🦴🍂🐕‍🦺 taken in Los Feliz by @galgarrick

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2 days ago

EVERYONE FORGOT ABOUT BLUE.

Over a year.

Over a year of waking up in a kennel. Watching the same walls. Waiting for a life that never seems to come.

No new pictures. No updates. No one sharing his story.

Blue was rescued from the shelter, but somewhere along the way, the world moved on without him.

And Blue? He’s still waiting. 💔

🐾 Blue is 3–4 years old, approximately 75 lbs, and a lovable, high-energy Lab who deserves so much more than a kennel.

He loves the outdoors, enjoys having space to explore, and needs a family who understands that some dogs are happiest with room to roam, adventures to enjoy, and people to call their own.

He doesn’t need a perfect home. He needs the right one.

We are not a rescue. We did not rescue Blue. We are simply people who know his story and refuse to accept that spending the rest of his life in boarding is how it ends.

Surviving the shelter was supposed to be the beginning of his new life. Not the end of his story.

📍 Lancaster, CA

🏡 Blue needs a home.

📩 DM us if you’re interested in Blue. We’ll put you in touch with the right people.

And if you can’t bring him home, please share him. Because somewhere out there is someone who doesn’t even know they’re missing Blue.

💙 Let’s make sure he’s not forgotten anymore.

#RememberBlue #AdoptBlue #ForgottenDogs #BoardingIsNotAHome #findblueahome

Repost:
• @barkitecture_la taken in Los Angeles, California by @galgarrick

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3 days ago

At USC campus in California students learned about the 1,200 people k!lled in H@mas’s October 7th attack, including at least 46 Americans. Three years later far too many still don’t know what happened that day.

May their memories be a blessing.
🤍🇮🇱🩵🕊️✡️

Repost @letsdsomething

We will never forget. taken in USC by @galgarrick

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5 days ago

🆘💔😭 BRIAN HAS BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH. PLEASE DON’T LET HIM DIE ALONE IN A SHELTER. 😭💔

10 YO, 16.1 LB VISUALLY IMPAIRED BRIAN (#A5803532) was found as a stray on 9/26. 💔 No one came for him. 😔

His little body tells a heartbreaking story of neglect: cloudy eyes, fleas, severe ear debris/infection, hair loss, painful skin issues, arthritis/spondylosis, wobbly back legs, and multiple masses/cysts. 💔😭

He was JUST NEUTERED YESTERDAY. He should be recovering in a warm, quiet home… curled up in a soft bed, being loved and spoiled.

Instead, this vulnerable senior is recovering inside a loud, scary shelter. 💔

🥺 Brian doesn’t need much. He just needs someone to say, “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”

🙏 PLEASE BE BRIAN’S HAIL MARY.
🏡 Adopt | ❤️ Foster | 💰 Pledge | 📢 Share

Let his final years be filled with love—not fear, loneliness, and a shelter kennel. 💔😭🙏

🎥Credit: @cherylgullstrand

Visit the shelter to adopt!
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Mon-Sat 11-5; Closed Sun.
☎️: (626) 962-3577 (Hit 5,2,2)

📍Baldwin Park ACC
4275 Elton St.
Baldwin Park, CA 91706

Rescue partners please contact:
DACCBPRescue@animalcare.lacounty.gov
JGutierrez@animalcare.lacounty.gov
BLeanos@animalcare.lacounty.gov
Amota@animalcare.lacounty.gov
Areal2@animalcare.lacounty.gov
RRuvalcaba@animalcare.lacounty.gov

#adoptme #fosterme #rescueme #fyp taken in County of Los Angeles - Baldwin Park Animal Care Center by @galgarrick

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6 days ago

Update: unfortunately I was told that Bill's health rapidly declined and he was euthanized prior to his deadline 💔🕊️

*******************

🆘RESCUE / ADOPTION NEEDED - Bill #A2298822 - ORANGE ALERT UNTIL WEDNESDAY, 10/07/26 - MUST PULL BY 4PM!🆘

12-year-old, 17.5 lbs, Male/neutered
He came to the shelter as a stray on 10/03/26

Medical Notes
Senior dog with weak hind limbs, ambulatory with a lot of effort
Thickened skin, dermatitis
Severe dental disease
Unsustainable for shelter life, needs rescue intervention by 4pm 10/7/26

Los Angeles Animal Services
East Valley Shelter
14409 Vanowen St.
Van Nuys, CA 91405
818-756-9323 / 9324

Rescues please contact:
Life Saving Liasion
Cell: (213) 655-7613
Work: (818) 756-9324
Luz.ruiz@lacity.org or
Cell: (213) 264-8988
Work:(818) 756-9324
goldie.garcia@lacity.org
#terrier #terriermix #seniordog #rescueme taken in East Valley Animal Care Center by @galgarrick

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6 days ago

Harbor Shelter’s 12-year-old senior Poodle, Mochi #A2296491 has a MUST EXIT DATE!!

**RESCUE OR ADOPTION BY 4 PM ON TUESDAY, 10/6. 😫🤍 Mochi was a very neglected dog with a body score of 2/3 out of 9 and weighing in at 8.5 lbs.

Her veterinary exam documented that she is able to stand and walk, but has a slow, stiff and weak gate. She is not a big fan of being touched too much or carried around, but that’s probably because she’s in pain.

Her current medical concerns include:

A 2–3 inch ulcerated mammary gland tumor
A 2–3 inch ulcerated area of skin on her left hip
Severe dental disease, including halitosis and missing teeth.

Opacities in both eyes with ocular discharge
Low body condition and weakness medhist mochi
Mochi has been able to spend time outside with volunteers, where she has walked around the yard, sniffing and exploring. She appears to have limited vision and can be sensitive to handling, particularly being held for extended periods

🚨 MOCHI MUST EXIT THE SHELTER BY 4 PM ON TUESDAY, 10/6. 🚨

She urgently needs an adopter or rescue to get her out of the shelter and provide the veterinary care she desperately needs.

Please share Mochi and reach out to me or @goldenyearsdogsanctuary ASAP if you can help save us this little senior.
#seniordogsrock taken in Harbor Animal Shelter, San Pedro by @galgarrick

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8 days ago

Three super seniors were in dire need in the medical department at the South LA Shelter.

Tiny Liberty #A2296821, her bonded brother Mister #A2296820 and Little Dude #A2295725 a 12-year-old Chihuahua who weighs 7 lbs.

We were so sad to hear Liberty died at the shelter. Apparently, she had a seizure and was euthanized. I wish we would’ve gotten to her earlier. We did help her bonded brother (Mister), who is clearly in bad shape. But we have a marvelous loving foster for him.

Little Dude #A2295725 is still waiting.
We sure would like to help him. 🙏🏼

DM me for our foster application!

 Rescue Liaisons: jasmine.poblano@lacity.org and catherine.lee@lacity.org South LA Animal Shelter, 1850 W. 60th St., Los Angeles, CA 90047 (888) 452-7381 Tue-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm, Closed Mondays

Reshared: @e.g.s0101 taken in Chesterfield Square Animal Services Center by @galgarrick

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8 days ago

Black dogs have a very rough time making it out alive… 🆘EXTREMELY URGENT ‼️ SENIOR PUP ABANDONED BY FAMILY🆘

GARETH #A5801062
AVAILABILITY STATUS: AV PEND SN
PRIMARY BREED: GERM SHEPHERD
PRIMARY COLOR: BLACK
SEX: Male
SIZE: MED
WEIGHT: 40
AGE: 7 years 0 months

📍Lancaster Animal Shelter 📍
PLEASE SHARE, TAG & CONTACT RESCUES, FOSTER, ADOPT
NOTE: ANY DOG can be EUTHANIZED within 7-10 DAYS from INTAKE date! Dogs are NOT TRULY safe until they are out of the shelter. If a dog is sick they can usually be adopted out on a $50 health trust waiver. DO NOT WAIT.
Located at Los Angeles County Animal Control- Lancaster Ca
Phone: 661-974-8358 or 661-940-4191
Address: 5210 West Ave. I Lancaster, CA
93536
Public Hours:
Open: Monday- Saturday 11:00 am. - 5:00 pm.
Limited Service on Sunday

To check their status enter the animal ID number into the search bar of the LA County Animal Control Website:
Website: https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/
dacc-search/

📧 Email the shelter for inquiries and exit plans. 📧
Add the dog’s name and ID to the subject line and include your contact information in the email.
general email:
ACCLancaster@animalcare.lacounty.gov
EMAIL : (important)
DACCLancasterRescue@animalcare.lacounty.gov

Reposted with love & hope 🤍🙏🏼
@bluegirls_harlow_luna Repost 🐾 @jltkchloe21
#adoptdontshop #dogsofinstagram #dog #dogs taken in Lancaster, California by @galgarrick

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