Barkee LaRoux provides love and care for unwanted older dogs
“I’ve loved animals since I was a kid,” says Carlynne McDonnell. “I grew up in Houston, where there was this amazing vet. I would find animals that had been hit by a car or whatever that were still alive. I would put them in my car and take them to the vet.”
And now, in the present day, McDonnell still rescues animals through the 501(c)(3) nonprofit she founded, Barkee LaRoux’s House of Love. Over the years, McDonnell and her husband, Alex, have rescued more than 120 abandoned, neglected and hospice-bound dogs from shelters in Southern California. These dogs are given a permanent home and a loving and gentle place to rest while they are still on earth.
“When Barkee was founded, we dreamed of being able to do what we do today,” says McConnell. “Our goal has always been to provide care and end-of-life support to abandoned seniors – and in some cases, seriously injured seniors. When we started, we tried to find a physical location that would provide a home-like environment without cages and enough space to roam outside and be safe from predators.”
It took the McDonnells three and a half years to find the right place for their retreat. They finally came across a five-acre property in Sky Valley. Most of it was unusable due to rocks and debris, but it had the perfect house to comfortably house their barkees, and it met the county’s regulatory approval requirements.
According to McConnell, there is a big difference between an animal shelter and a shelter.
“A shelter is a place where you take in animals that will stay with you forever. A shelter is a place where animals are adopted or placed into foster care. And although we have several foster homes, the dogs that come to Barkee are usually not well. They have been surrendered to shelters in Southern California for various reasons, mostly because of their age. Either the family doesn’t have the money to pay (for treatment) or they aren’t inclined to do so. We call the Barkees we get ‘abandoned’ because often other shelters don’t want them either.”
According to McDonnell, a Barkee dog is generally 15, 16 or older. He could have a severe heart murmur or a tumor. She and Alex will arrange for him to be picked up and then have him examined by a vet.
“Excellent veterinary care is really important because a misdiagnosis can shorten life,” she says.
And the McDonnells do not take the end of an animal’s life lightly.
“As long as a dog has a personality, they’re still showing signs of life,” says McConnell. “We’re very particular about quality over quantity. But we don’t believe in making animals suffer. We don’t wait until a dog is dragging, falling down and obviously not eating. We watch them like a hawk, and when we feel their time has come, we give them what we call ‘the ultimate gift of love.’ But first we have several conversations about it with people, including a retired veterinary technician.”
“The people at Barkee have an unwavering passion for the welfare of older and sick dogs who are unfortunately often discarded,” says their long-time friend Tim O’Bayley. “Barkee gives them love and excellent care when they are often at their worst.”
Barkee LaRoux’s House of Love’s website states that it always puts the animals’ needs first, provides its residents with loving and compassionate care and a safe, secure and non-threatening environment, is available to the animals 24 hours a day, never leaves the dogs unattended, never puts the animals that come to the shelter up for adoption, and respects community laws and regulations.
“If there’s one thing we want people and dogs to understand before they die, it’s that they are extraordinarily loved,” McDonnell says. “That’s why we do what we do.”
To learn more, volunteer, or make a donation, visit barkeelaroux.org.
As philanthropy editor at The Desert Sun, Winston Gieseke writes about nonprofits, fundraisers and locals who give back, like his beloved dog, Ernie Banks, who volunteers at the local cancer center. Reach him at [email protected].
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