Less than 30 days to save Ava and Cowboy

Hi everyone —

I never imagined I’d be writing an update like this, but here we are.

As many of you know, the rescue effort for Ava, Cowboy, Winnie, and their littermates has been going on for a full year. I made them a promise the day they came into my life: that they would never be unsafe, unwanted, misunderstood, or abandoned again.

This update is long, but it’s honest — and everything in it matters.

As you may or may not recall, Ava was dumped — pregnant — in the desert and gave birth under a heavy metal trash bin at an organic waste-management facility. Out of the nine puppies she delivered:

- Three were found already gone

- A fourth passed the next day

- And Cowboy…

He was discovered lying in the dirt with his umbilical cord still attached. Only a few days old.

He’d been “adopted out” at just a few days old, bounced around, bottle-fed, and when he finally came to me, his survival was still in question.

These dogs did not come from comfort.

They came from trauma, hunger, survival, and instinct.

They fought to live… and for as long as we both shall live, I vowed to fight for them.

Half of their siblings now have beautiful forever homes.

The other half — Ava and Winnie… and soon, Cowboy once again — are still in my care.

Last week, I came home to find an Animal Control officer at my door speaking with Steve.

Because of Ava’s previous adopter — and the fallout from her inability to manage Ava — the officer came to:

- Verify the number of dogs

- Check for proper licensing

- Determine whether I was operating a business from the home (which requires certain permits)

Ava and Winnie could have been confiscated.

Let me say that again:

They could have been taken.

By nothing short of grace, the officer saw the truth behind this effort — the love, the structure, the care — and granted me 30 days to:

either find the dogs homes…or move out myself.

And now, the clock is ticking.

I have approximately 26 days to bring Cowboy back under my care, have him neutered, and organize another cross-country move to get us all to safety.

Ava, Cowboy, and I have already lived through the risk, fallout, and trauma that come from mismatched, rushed placements. I’m not willing to do this again — and I’m certainly not willing to put them through it again. I didn’t even want to do it last time, because I knew the risks involved.

Proper placements — truly knowing the dog, understanding what they need to feel safe and to achieve (and maintain) balance, and finding appropriate matches and lifestyles — are not “high standards" (as I've often been told when it comes to placing these dogs). They are RESPONSIBLE standards. Proper placement isn't just personal responsibility, but a public and social one! I cannot emphasize this enough.

This rescue effort has tested every part of my being:

- My health

- My finances

- My home

- My relationship

- My physical body (I still need a hip replacement, and it will be some time before I can get this done)

- My emotional resilience and my nervous system

- My sense of safety and stability

My love for Steve is unwavering.

He’s my love, my heart, and my very best friend — truly the greatest love of my life.

He’s been a bright light in the darkest years of my life, and his family welcomed me in and embraced me with open arms. It’s the first real taste of “family” I’ve ever known… and something I will deeply miss.

But the truth is: this rescue has pushed us both to our limits. We don’t always see eye to eye on the dogs — and now, we’re being forced into different directions.

Not because of lack of love.

But because of responsibility.

I don’t know what this means for us personally, but I choose to trust that Love — in whatever form it takes — will absolutely prevail.

I don’t yet understand why there’s been such an extraordinary amount of sacrifice and loss these last five years. It’s my sincere hope that all of this is building toward something truly extraordinary. I just pray that the sacrifice and loss can take a back seat for a while — it’s been too much to bear.

I will miss Steve. His family. Our life together. Our home — even though it never had the space or structure to support the differences I’ve spent most of my adult life learning to understand and speak to in the form of service.

I will miss the Huskies. They’re medicine. Two of the most non-Husky Huskies I’ve ever known — quiet, calm, balanced, intuitive, supportive. Truly extraordinary dogs.

And then there’s Franklin. Frank will be staying with Steve. With Ava’s prey drive, Frank being 13 years old, and his deep, adorable attachment to Steve — and Steve’s attachment to him — I know in my heart this is the right choice. Steve will love him for the rest of his life and dote on him endlessly. (It’s honestly the sweetest thing to see.)

Leaving him will break my heart. He came to me in 2019 as a severe aggression case — scared, misunderstood, and needing a lot of help and support. His people were starting a family and didn’t feel their life was the right fit for him, so I promised them I would hang onto him and love him as my own until “his special human” arrived. Well… it took four years. But I found him. We both did. Frank has been one of my greatest teachers, and I will miss his presence immeasurably. But I know — truly know — that he’s in good, loving, committed hands.

As it stands, I have less than 30 days to pack up my life and move to Columbia, South Carolina.

Amazingly — and what feels like divine alignment — dear friends (and former clients) have a rental home that just became available. One of them is even on his path to becoming a dog trainer, and we’re going to combine forces. He’s got the working-dog, obedience, and Schutzhund focus, while I have the pet-dog and behavioral focus.

They also believe in a business idea I’ve carried on my Vision Board since 2016 — something that does not exist anywhere on the planet. We’ll be laying the groundwork for that dream as soon as we land.

While this may sound hopeful and like a silver lining… we still need big help.

What We Need (Urgent)

1. Cowboy’s Neuter + Vet Care

This will be done by Dr. Davis, who has lovingly cared for this family from the beginning.

2. Moving Funds

This includes transportation, safe housing, supplies, and travel logistics for a pack that has experienced trauma and instability — and for us. This pack is not like my OC (Original Crew), who all passed between 2022 and 2024. They were a beautiful, cohesive, balanced, extraordinary group of dogs. The dynamic is much different right now, and I don’t have the luxury of time or space to rebuild that balance before we travel together.

The moving quotes I’m getting are hovering between $5.9K and $7.5K — and that’s just to get my life packed up and moved again. I’ll likely have to do what I did last time: pack a moving container and tow a small U-Haul trailer with the immediate essentials. This does not include nightly housing, gas, or food along the way.

3. A Travel Companion

Is there anyone... anyone willing to take a week off, drive separately (their car or a rental) with Ava, and help us make it to South Carolina safely?? I understand this is a HUGE ask — but I have no choice but to try.

4. A Professional-Grade Dog Treadmill

This is essential for Ava’s nervous system, rehabilitation, and wellbeing. It will also come in for the assist with the others. I outlined in a post the other day all the benefits treadmills provide — especially for rehabilitation, structure, decompression, and nervous system support. This is something she — and we — truly need.

5. Continued Support Through Purchases

100% of proceeds from: the new book, "The Human End of the Leash: Dog Training's Missing Link", Dog Mom University courses and masterclasses, IBACs (which will be conducted after the move) go directly into this rescue effort.

This is so massive — all of it. It's so unbelievably overwhelming. And I can’t do any of this alone.

The last five years have been full of heartbreak, upheaval, trauma, and loss.

This rescue effort has stretched and broken me open in every direction — and yet, through it all, these dogs have remained my North Star.

I’m exhausted.

But I know I can’t give up now — not after how far we’ve come. And you all have each played a big part of this.

Responsibility means doing the right thing — even and especially when it’s the most inconvenient, uncomfortable, and hardest thing to do.

These dogs deserve safety.

These dogs deserve stability.

They deserve a chance.

And I made them a vow — for as long as we both shall live.

I’m doing everything I can — and everything I know to do — to see this all the way through, to ensure their safety, and to protect their lives. I desperately need the help and support to do this.

To everyone who has supported this journey, shared posts, donated, offered help, or simply held space for us — thank you.

Truly. Your support has saved actual lives.

If you’ve ever wanted to meet them, they’d love to meet you.

Ava loves people with her whole heart.

Cowboy is an introverted old soul who warms up slowly but beautifully.

And Winnie… she’s Ava’s Mini-Me. : )

Thank you for helping me see this through.

Thank you for seeing my heart.

Thank you for standing with us in this final, hardest stretch.

With love, gratitude, and hope...

Kimberly A.

Final GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/83407a134