Jackie

Jackie is the little tan girl I recently found at a gas station.

She needed a name, and I was reading a post on Nextdoor about somebody who lost a dog named Jackie. I thought, "Okay, here we go. There's her name."

She has an inguinal hernia and will need surgery asap. It looks like she had some kind of trauma, either she was hit by a car or attacked by another dog.

Lupe (pictured above) is part of our team and she studied to be a vet, so she's helping us figure out what needs to happen next and who's going to do the surgery.

We're waiting on some answers right now, but, yes. Another dog. Another surgery.

Olga

And then there's Olga.

She's about 40 pounds, black, and was mostly hairless when I found her. And she's not hairless. She looked like a Xolo but was just so sick.

Olga previously survived ehrlichiosis, and he doesn't want to risk hemorrhaging or other complications by doing the surgery while she's in heat. So we're waiting to spay her.

In the meantime, she's here.

Below are some before-and-after pictures of Olga because she's already come a long way. She already looks like a completely different dog!

Happy Tails: A New Kennel

We also have some good news.

The welder came out and did all the measurements for the roof on two new kennels, and hopefully they're going to start working on it next week.

Which is very exciting for us because more kennels means more space and more ways to separate dogs when we need to give them their own space.

We've actually been doing more separating at night lately. Sometimes dogs who have been fine together decide they're not fine together anymore, or a new dog comes in and changes the dynamic.

So we adjust.

This is Travieso sanctuary life.

Then There’s Cozie

We have a really good adoption story this month.

Cozie is doing amazingly well in her new home with Cassandra.

And Cassandra told me something the other day that I thought was so sweet.

She got this little sling carrier for Cozie so she can carry her around like a baby, and she said Cozie just melts into her body.

Cassandra has cats and has loved animals her whole life, but she said she's never felt anything quite like this before. Cozie just kind of merges into her when she's carrying her around.

And I told her, "I told you."

There's just something about the bond you can have with a dog.

And Cozie is definitely a happy girl. I can attest to it myself because I visit them and hang out when I’m in Berkeley. I was on the phone with Cassandra the other day and I could hear Cozie in the background playing with her squeaky toy. I love that squeaky sound because even when you can't see who's doing it, you know somebody's having a good time.

That's what we want. We want them out of here and in homes where they're somebody's baby.

Cozie found her person and that’s all I can ask for.

Lend a Paw - Donation Requests

Needed Donations

Thank you to everyone who has donated and supported us over the past year. Your generosity helped cover the startup costs of establishing our stateside 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and thanks to you, our Oakland branch has officially completed its first year of growth and success. We truly couldn't have done it without you. Donations are 100% tax-deductible, and every contribution—big or small—goes directly toward caring for the dogs.

For those who would like to provide ongoing support, we welcome recurring sponsorships of $25–$30 per week, or $100 per month. Consistent support helps us provide food, medical care, enrichment, transportation, and all of the daily necessities that keep the sanctuary running.

This month, we have a few extra expenses coming up.

One of our biggest immediate needs is Jackie's surgery. As I mentioned above, we're still figuring out exactly what needs to be done and what the final cost will be, but she needs surgery and we're going to get it done.

We're also moving forward with the new kennel. The welder has been out to take measurements and we're getting ready to start work on the roof. Every additional safe, covered space we can create makes a huge difference, especially as new dogs continue to come in.

And then there are all the regular things we seem to run out of.

We're looking for dog food, cat litter, hand sanitizer, disposable rubber gloves (Small and Medium), flea treatments, and flea collars. These are supplies we go through every single day caring for the dogs.

We're also hoping to find large outdoor umbrellas, umbrella stands, shade cloths, or other materials that can help create more shaded areas around the sanctuary. Any extra protection from the sun makes life more comfortable for the dogs while they're waiting for their forever homes.

One thing that's especially helpful is flea prevention. The donated flea treatments don't just go to the sanctuary dogs—I also use them on dogs living on the streets and other rescue dogs who don't have anyone to provide that care.

And some good news: we're setting up an Amazon Wish List! That should make it much easier for people who want to send supplies directly to us. We're getting everything organized now, and we'll send out the link with next month's newsletter.

In the meantime, if you have any of these items to donate, know of a good local source, or would like to help us purchase them, I'd love to hear from you. You can reach me at tamara@traviesodogsanctuary.com.

Every donation—whether it's helping with Jackie's surgery, a bag of food, a pair of gloves, or a flea collar—helps us care for another dog in need.

❤️🐾 We always welcome donations, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters of all kinds. If you'd like to lend a paw, please visit our donation page here: