Mona is a rescue dog who lived through a horrendous period being transported at various adoption locations by a so-called no-kill rescue group to place her with a new family. The owner of the rescue group was arrested two weeks after we adopted her. He was using the animals as a tax-sheltered sources of income.

We wanted to give our first, store-bought dog, Leo, a companion. The rescue group was holding 150 dogs and other animals without permit in a California desert area, and was obviously unable to adequately feed and care for the dogs that was collected from shelters around Los Angeles. We found also part of Mona's story on Facebook through her radio chip number: Mona had been used as a mom in a puppy mill, and was later abandoned on a street. She was afraid and skinny when we adopted her, but quickly started to show a strong will and great intelligence. She competes with Leo for our attention, usually winning. However, Leo and Mona play together all the time. She is very much the dominant dog in the family, and this is why this image fits her character so well. The beast in her is still lurking in the shadow, even though she is the sweetest and most endearing dog I have known. Hopefully, the joy she has brought to our family more than makes up for all the troubles she has been through, including getting her back into shape with a major surgery after rescuing her.