10/20/2026
I (Sarah) have been a bit quiet on The Canine Connection’s social media lately as I’ve been adjusting to the passing of one of my dearest dog friends, my beloved Rudy.
Several weeks ago, “Camp Fire Rudy” joined his friends in the heavens.
I met (and named) Rudy at the emergency animal shelter where I was volunteering in the aftermath of the Camp Fire. It’s no exaggeration to say that from the moment we met, our lives were changed. The singed spots on his ears were really insignificant compared to the obvious neglect he had experienced prior to the fire, yet his spirit was so loving and pure. When I was finally able to adopt him, tending to his medical needs and separation anxiety became one of the most challenging and rewarding things I had ever done, in part because of a sense that he and I were meant to be together. For almost 8 years, our lives were enmeshed. And now, he is gone.
I have been sitting with this, in this empty space, trying to find the words to express all Rudy was and all he meant to me, and I just can’t find them, not yet. I’ve been trying to find a new normal after what feels like a lifetime of Rudy as a primary focus of my life, and my new normal feels… too quiet, too empty, abnormal.
What I can say now is that Rudy was one of the most significant beings in my life. I am filled with so much gratitude that we belonged to each other, and so much sadness that he is no longer by my side.
Rudy lived a long life, the last half of it with me. According to best estimates of his age when he was rescued from the Camp Fire and the Embark age test, he was over 15 when he passed away on September 23, 2026. And he was a survivor. He survived the Camp Fire, considerable neglect before the fire, various medical emergencies over the years, and numerous debilitating illnesses over this past year, any one of which might have been insurmountable to another dog. His will to live was absolutely epic and he put his all into life. He was the epitome of unconditional love, resilience, connection, and gratitude for the small blessings of life, like a grassy spot on a sunny day.
Rudy inspired me in so many ways. If he and his story inspired you, I invite you to contribute in his memory to the organizations that cared for him and brought him into my (and your!) life, organizations that helped Rudy and have changed the life trajectory of so many animals.
North Valley Animal Disaster Group responded to the Camp Fire in a myriad of critical ways and it was at their "airport" animal emergency shelter, while I was volunteering, that I met Rudy. The scope of the disaster was like nothing ever encountered and NVADG volunteers worked tirelessly to save the animals that were able to escape the fire and those that were left in the fire zone. The level of training and dedication exemplified by those within this organization is nothing short of amazing. But for their rapid response to provide shelter for thousands of animals during and after the Camp Fire, many animals would not have survived and I would not have met Rudy.
https://www.nvadg.org/donation-information/
After several months, the unclaimed animals were released to local shelters for further care and adoption. Chico Animal Shelter jumped in and took in Rudy and most of the unclaimed dogs and cats. Those at our local shelter made space in their facility, their schedules, and their hearts for these animals that had been through so much. While there, Rudy's medical care began for his atrocious skin infection that pre-dated the fire. Rudy represented all the dogs cared for by Chico Animal Shelter when he was chosen to be the 2019 Walk Woof Wag poster dog for our annual fundraiser that supports our wonderful Chico Animal Shelter. This Friday, while we celebrate our 13th annual Walk Woof Wag, (in a different way than usual), I will be thinking of Rudy.
https://nvcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1996
In time, I will be able to write the tribute that Rudy deserves. For now, I just want to let all of you who cared about him and his story know that he has left this life and been lifted up to a place where he knows no discomfort, one that is overflowing with the toys he loves, where he has been greeted by so many friends who had gone ahead, and where his spirit is sparkling.
Thank you for loving dogs as I do and for being part of The Canine Connection and his life and story.
