We grieve the death of Jack and the heartbreaking losses his wife is enduring, including the loss of Fauci. Nothing makes any of that less devastating. There are no words to take away the soul-shattering grief — and we should not try to find any because they do not exist. Trust me on this.
So many people got involved to get Fauci back to me, his breeder, after Jack died. Lillian Ostermiller and Jan Burgan (and her husband) have my eternal gratitude for getting all the ducks lined up in Maryland 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆 Because of them (and Maria, Jack’s wife), Fauci was put on a plane and flown on a non-stop flight to Portland, Oregon. He arrived at 9 pm on a Monday; Jennifer Graffunder and I were there, waiting to welcome him.
The Portland airport is over 400 miles from my house. Somehow Jennifer and I managed to stay awake as we drove through the night with Fauci, who had to be so confused at all the twists and turns his life had taken over the previous weeks.
Fauci stayed with me and the girls as I assessed his needs, and he played and played with his niece, Starry.
It was Cindy Heintzberger who immediately thought of Tony and Brody as a potential new home for Fauci — she thought they would be exactly right for him. When I offered it as a tentative plan, Tony and Brody did not even think twice — they wanted him. Tony flew out to Boise to see if Fauci agreed and he did.
Although I now own a lovely, safe airline crate there was no way I was putting Fauci on a plane again — I wanted to deliver him in person and make sure he agreed with our plan for his new life.
And so on Sunday morning I left bright (okay — it was not bright at all but very dark) and early with Fauci and Capella, after getting the green light from Jennifer Zaayer, who carefully tracked the road conditions for me (she lives on the route). Thank you, Jennifer!
But no trip of mine would be complete without a good (?!) story. I stopped at a public park in Lovelock, NV as I have many times before. But this time, this happened.
AAA arrived almost THREE HOURS later and their truck promptly got stuck as well, which made me feel better because apparently I wasn’t the only one who thought the ground looked solid!
We all got extracted and I was finally on my way again, delayed and muddy but still relatively cheerful.
I went straight to Vallejo where Fauci immediately declared his willingness to stay.
You can follow Fauci’s continuing adventures on Tony’s Facebook page 💙
There is that juxtaposition — so much joy that Tony and Brody have a Berner again, and that he is related to Nikko J and ZeD. Much happiness for Fauci’s new life 💙 Endless gratitude to everyone who has been part of this adventure 🙏🏼
And deep sorrow for the circumstances that set it all in motion 💔
Jack and Fauci
So many feelings all mixed together 🤯
Capella and I then drove to Davis, where both my sisters live.
Capella
It was intended to be a longer visit but for a variety of reasons, that was not possible. We still got to spend time together and laugh and take the requisite sister photo.
Note the matching jackets! Our mother would be so proud.
And then Capella and I drove home. By sticking to pavement, we had no further troubles.
WHEW.
Again, thank you to everyone on Team Fauci 🙏🏼 Community is our super power — never forget that. There is almost nothing that can’t be accomplished if we work together.
❤️
