This beautiful little bear is Sasha and she is a 12-week old Golden Retriever/Shepherd mix. We rescued Sasha from the Bakersfield Animal Shelter along with her brother, Kermit. They don’t make em’ much more adorable than Sasha. The first day for Sasha was a little scary–she and her brother just huddled as close to one another as possible, shaking, as if in shock. I was pleasantly surprised when on day two, I found them playing in their huge water bowl, having a puppy water fight. They were drenched and they had eaten all of their food, which made me one happy dog rescuer. They get funnier and more comfortable with each passing day. Recently, they were trying to tag-team wrestle against Marley, who was not in the mood to entertain two boisterous children. Marley let out one loud “RRRRUUUUUFFFFFF,” which just about peeled their ears back and sent them diving underneath the porch. They learned Marley’s Mutts rule #1: Don’t mess with the big guy if he’s not in the mood! Sasha’s temperament is very “golden retrieverish” and I can just see her blossoming into a gorgeous, elegant gal. Sasha has been vaccinated with her first shots, has been wormed and is ready for adoption.

If you are interested in adopting Sasha, please contact Zach at 661-972-3852 or email Zach@marleysmutts.com.

This adorable little whippersnapper is Kermit and he is a Golden Retriever mix. We rescued Kermit from the Bakersfield Animal Shelter where he could have met an unpleasant demise. Thankfully, Kermit, and his sister, Sasha, are now at Marley’s Mutts. The first day for Kermit was a little scary–he and his sister just huddled as close to one another as possible, shaking, as if in shock. I was pleasantly surprised when on day two, I found them playing in their huge water bowl, having a puppy water fight. They were drenched and they had eaten all of their food, which made me one happy dog rescuer. They get funnier and more comfortable with each passing day. Recently, they were trying to tag-team wrestle against Marley, who was not in the mood to entertain two boisterous children. Marley let out one loud “RRRRUUUUUFFFFFF,” which just about peeled their ears back and sent them diving underneath the porch. They learned Marley’s Mutts rule #1: Don’t mess with the big guy if he’s not in the mood! Kermit is a little confused by life, as you can tell by his expression, but his precocious nature and sense of wonder make him that much more adorable. Kermit has had his shots and has been wormed and is ready to ride off in to the sunset.

If you are interested in adopting Kermit, please contact Zach at 661-972-3852 or email zach@marleysmutts.com.

This strapping little guy is Princeton and, although the intensity of his eyes could lead you to think he is part Lemur, we think he is actually a Miniature Pinscher. Princeton is definitely Ivy League–he was actually found at Jacobsen Middle School. He came inside, sat down and acted like he was there to learn. After seeing this, the staff and kids couldn’t just let him go to Animal Control, so one of the girls brought him home and the rest is Marley’s Mutts history. Princeton has the look of a Min Pin but is just a little thicker—not so dainty. Many Min Pins look as though they are just waiting to break a leg but that’s not the case with Princeton. Princeton is just a proper little guy who is getting better at life each day. From walking on a leash to housetraining, Princeton has got the hang of it. Princeton has an appointment for neuter next week and will be brought up to code with his vaccinations.

If you are interested in adopting little Princeton, please contact Zach at 661-972-3852 or email zach@marleysmutts.com.

This perky pup is Pellet and he is a 3-4 year-old Border collie/Golden Retriever mix who was found out at the Wind Farms. Like any good name, Pellet earned his—because we dug 3 BB gun pellets out of his side and back leg. He still has a few imbedded in him. He let me pry those BB’s out with scissors and didn’t once try to bite or so much as moan—he took like a man and harbored no ill will. His attitude towards life and his love for people is second to none. He is a magical dog. Pellet goes with everywhere with me—to the horse ranch, to the hospital, and even to the pound to pick up more dogs. He is the perfect companion dog and is very “golden retriever-ish” in that way. Pellet is leash trained, off-leash-trained, housebroken, and very suitable around children; he also has no herding instinct whatsoever. You will not meet a more loyal, gentle, loving dog….PERIOD!

If you are interested in adopting Pellet, please contact Zach at 661-972-3852 or email zach@marleysmutts.com.

This here is our boy Satchel and he is a neutered two-year-old, schnauzer/terrier mix. Satchel has a big piece of my heart due to the challenges we have faced together. The day after Christmas, 2 years ago, Satchel’s brother, Frankie, died of Parvo. We feared that Satch wouldn’t make it and that he would die by New Year’s. However, Satch never even developed symptoms. The virus didn’t plague him like it did his brother, and we were able to find him an excellent home. Since then, Satch’s Mom has had to move to an elderly community where she is not permitted to have a dog. So Satchel’s back with us and we couldn’t be happier to have him; it’s as though he brought a little bit Frankie back with him. Satch is not a small dog and comes in at about 45 lbs. He is housebroken, rides very well in a vehicle and loves other animals. Look at that face–the emotion, the history, the potential. He’s just a great dog who deserves a great home.

If you are interested in adopting Satchel, please contact Zach at 661-972-3852 or email zach@marleysmutts.com.

This Poofy Adonis is Claiborne and he is a pure white, 2-3 year-old, West Highland terrier mix. The Claiborne identity is not really known (get it?) as we rescued him from the Bakersfield pound where he was incarcerated for being stray. One thing is for sure, he is not pound material and surely would not have lasted long in the slammer—I mean, look at him. Since being liberated, Claiborne has gone to live with his foster Mom, Sunny, and her motley crew. Clay fits right in and has learned the ropes very quickly. Sunny tells me that he is housetrained and very cooperative; someone obviously took care of this little guy and taught him the basics. Sunny even brought Clay over to help out with Horse Rescue and he couldn’t have been more well behaved .(I took these pictures at the horse ranch.) Clay is being neutered on the 17th of January and will be brought up to code on all of his vaccs. Sunny says Clay loves to travel, loves other dogs and is a genuinely happy, confident dog. Clay looks as though he should wear a Rolex on and drive a Cadillac, but he is really just a dog’s dog who would be happy with any loving, capable family. If you are interested in adopting this great white hype, please contact Zach at 661-972-3852 or email zach@marleysmutts.com.

Meet Nelson, our 2-3 year-old Weimaraner. We rescued Nelson from the Bakersfield pound where he was not doing very well. Bakersfield is absolutely inundated with doggies, therefore Nelson was sharing a kennel with 5 other dogs—and it appeared as though they weren’t allowing him to eat much. Upon arrival to Marley’s Mutts, he had a bad upper respiratory infection and was about 25 lbs. underweight. To add insult to injury, he wasn’t eating or drinking. The good doctors at the Tehachapi Vet Hospital got Nelson right back on track with powerful antibiotics and instructions that we give him nutrients subcutaneously. Within a few days, Nelson had become a new dog. Nelson’s progress has been dramatic and incredible encouraging, in fact, other than being severely underweight, he appears to be completely healthy. As to his emotional state, he is just about the happiest, most loving dog we’ve ever had—and that includes his relationships with the other dogs up here. Nelson loves to go for bike rides, travels extremely well in a vehicle, is perfect off-leash and has become completely housetrained. The only thing standing between him and a full recovery is a few months of groceries.

If you are interested in adopting the dog of a lifetime who will love you like no other, then Nelson is your boy! Please contact Zach at 661-972-3852 or email zach@marleysmutts.com.

This gregarious genius is Einstein and he is a 3-year-old Bichon Frise/Poodle mix. Our little genius was stewing at the pound in Bakersfield for a month before we rescued him and boy, did he smell like it! Jose (the new, awesome groomer from the Pet Lodge), prettied him up well but, unfortunately, he was unable to save his
beautiful, curly locks—just too matted.

Einstein is the perfect, mellow companion dog. He likes to hang out near me at all times and I’m fairly confident that, with him sitting at my feet as I write this, his bio will somehow come across “smarter.” Einstein battled a case of kennel cough for the first 10 days that he was here, but is now doing much better. He is housetrained and will do his best to let you know that he’s got to go. He’s not much of a talker or barker, but he loves giving kisses (which was sloppy when he was sick because he constantly had a runny nose). Einstein is great with the other dogs up here and I’m fairly confident that he would do just as well with cats or other creatures. Einstein’s fur will grow out soon and he will really be a looker! His coat is silky smooth with a glimmering shimmer that looks as though it’s been treated with “product.”

If you are interested in adopting our little genius, please contact Zach at 661-972-3852 or email zach@marleysmutts.com.

Meet Bubba the Wizard, a 1-½ year old, handsome hunk of a Great Pyrenees. We were going to name him Fabio because of his flowing locks and attractive persona, but feel he is too smart for that name and didn’t want him to endure the put-downs. Bubba comes from Bear Valley and, when his family lost their home , they had to move to a place that didn’t take large dogs. I’ve had a lot of Pyrenees up here at Marley’s Mutts (well over a dozen) and I can’t say that I’ve ever had one as lovable as Bubba. He is a big-time “leaner” which means he loves to press all of his weight up against you as if to say “you’re mine.” Leaning is a show of dominance and we try not to let them do that very often. Bubba has a very human presence about him, he’s very relatable—he almost seems like an old soul reincarnated. I call him the Wizard because he looks at you like he can read your mind and see into your soul–he’s like Gandolf from Lord of the Rings. You have to meet Bubba the Wizard in order to really appreciate him. He is going to be fixed and vaccinated this week, the 12th, and will be ready for adoption soon thereafter.

If you are interested in adopting a Wizard, please contact Zach at 661-972-3852 or email zach@marleysmutts.com.

This tenacious tyke is Sonar and, as is plainly obvious, some scumbag cut his ears off with a crude, surgical implement—probably a knife or razor. I found Sonar at the Bakersfield Pound shortly after he was brought in. The awesome KCAC staff let me bring him up to Tehachapi immediately, which was crucial because severe open wounds like Sonar’s make a pup very susceptible to infection and disease. Dr. Anderson took a look at him and sent us home with antibiotics and instructions to keep his ears clean and treated. At first Sonar was a bit in shock, running a fever and incredibly scared. His apprehension has begun to dissolve and the other dogs here have not let him retreat into fear. Sonar has developed a great relationship with Ludwig (our 130 lb. Saint Bernard) and forged an adorable bond with Chloe, our Pit mix pup that we rescued from the same shelter. As I write this, the two of them keep me focused on my work by providing a constant background of play-banter, untying my shoelaces and chewing on my cell phone charger. Sonar will make a full recovery but will always bear the scars of his tormented past.

If you are interested in being a part of his glorious future, please contact Zach at 661-972-3852 or email zach@marleysmutts.com.