Molly, Bonnie, and Ray Pagones

Adopted at the O. C. Animal Shelter in June of 1993 at the age of six months were these two little mixed breed pups. Molly, a Lab/Pit Bull mix and Bonnie, a Beagle/Border Collie mix.

Both Molly and Bonnie have graduated from K9 obedience, beginning agility and intermediate agility through Yorba Linda Parks and Recreation programs.

Molly has always been the squeaky wheel and trouble maker, scaling seven foot fences and barking up a storm when she hears anything. As of last May, Molly has contracted Cushing's disease and lost her vision, and has degenerative arthritis; however, with daily medication and the usual TLC she demands, she is still our little squeaky wheel. No more seven foot fences in her future.

Bonnie, the little lady and compound patroller, knows she has a job and has always done it very well. Every evening she won't come in until we retire. She patrols the back yard like the Queen's guards at Buckingham Palace. Bonnie at the age of eight just received her CGC and TDI titles this past year and is now involved with The Orange County SPCA PAWS program and Therapy Dogs of Southern California. She like all the dogs
in these programs seem to spread the warm fuzzies to anyone they come in contact with.

Ray, "Turbo-Tush", is a rescue that Dr. Dahlem and his wife brought to OVVH in July of 1996. I had only been working with Dr. Dahlem for a month, my first time ever in the vet field. Arriving for my shift I saw this beautiful white, wiggly, happy, fourteen month old Australian Shepherd who obviously had a medical problem with both eyes. I immediately ran to Dr. Dahlem and asked what the story was with the dog. He said that Ray was up for adoption. Without hesitation I replied, "I'll take him"! Doc said that both of Ray's eyes would need to be removed because of severe infection. I stepped up to bat for the challenge of caring for a blind dog.

Since that day Ray has graduated second in his obedience class and has been doing therapy dog work with the Orange County SPCA PAWS program since 1997 along with being an active member with Therapy Dogs of Southern California since 1999. Ray has made many connections with patients at visits, but one sticks in my mind, a little girl at one of our visits came up to Ray and replied, "he looks like an angel", hugged him and said, "I wish he could be my angel".

If there's a heaven, there must be dogs there.