By MARY FOPPIANO, Avila Beach Civic Association

Tahoe Keeney is a 72-pound, 3-year-old Golden Doodle (Standard Poodle and Golden Retriever mix). They have had him for 2 years now that he was re-homed from a ranch in the Fresno area. It was unfortunate that he became an outside ranch dog after the owner became allergic to him during and after her pregnancy. 

Doodles, for the most part, are not ideal for outdoor ranch dogs because they need a lot of attention and human contact. Luckily, the owners were aware of this so, when Jim and Pat Keeney advertised on Craig’s list that they were an older, active couple with lots of love and attention to give to any Lab, Lab mix, or Doodle, preferably a big dog, they answered their post in one day. 

Tahoe was originally named Dako, so their five-year-old grandson, Camden, helped them rename him to a similar sounding name, “Tahoe,” where their whole family vacations every year. The perfect name was meaningful to all of them.

Jim and Pat feel truly blessed by his presence. Tahoe goes everywhere with them. His favorite place is the Avila Dog Beach, where he is the best swimmer and ball retriever on the beach. They said that they have had Labs their whole life, and Tahoe could outswim any of their past dogs…and currently any other dog on the Avila Dog Beach.

Besides riding in the car with his head out the window, Tahoe’s favorite thing is to wait for the three garbage trucks that make their way into their cul-de-sac every Thursday. He is such a gentle dog, but you would never know it by the way he carries on with very loud ferocious barking and jumping at the window. He waits at the front winder early Thursday morning and will not settle down until after the third truck has come and gone. It is his one big job in life to protect their home from those big, bad garbage trucks…and he is so very proud of himself. 

Tahoe is truly the best, most human-dog they have ever had, and they love him with all their heart!

NEXT MONTH’S ‘PET OF THE MONTH’

Please send me your pictures and a short paragraph about your pet to avilabeachcc@gmail.com.

Thanks, and introduce us to your furry friend next month!