The Coachella Valley is filled with animal lovers of all kinds. There are a number of dog-friendly restaurants, and several shelters for our furry friends without a home—but some of those shelters don’t want to deal with older dogs with health issues.
Carlynne McDonnell and her organization, Barkee LaRoux’s House of Love, welcome them with open arms.
McDonnell was born and raised in Houston, and her love of animals started early. Her family lived in a somewhat distant suburban area and had lots of animals—cats, dogs, chickens and fish. McDonnell went to college and majored in marine biology, but did not complete school, because options for women in that field were limited then. At one point, she wrote an article on animal euthanasia in Galveston.
“At that time, it was horrifying the way they did things,” she said.
McDonnell moved to New Jersey, where she met her husband, Alex, a civil engineer who mostly worked on railroads and transportation projects. Originally a public policy wonk, Carlynne McDonnell turned to environmental remediation work in New Jersey. Later, the couple moved to Northern California, then the Claremont area, and then finally Palm Springs.
McDonnell said she always wanted to have an animal sanctuary, but it’s not realistic for most people. There wasn’t enough room at their home in a gated community, so they started looking for property to purchase—and she finally found the perfect property in Sky Valley, in a location where there is little between them and the mountains of Joshua Tree. They’ve been there about six years now.
It has a small house geared for the comfort of dogs. The living room couch is really a dog bed, and there are pee pads all through the house; it’s a great space for animals to have a wonderful life in their later years. There is a special room for them to go to the bathroom, since they’re not allowed outside—because it’s too dangerous. There are coyotes, owls, hawks and other predators around.
“We live right next to ‘critter highway,’” McDonnell said.
The place has a covered porch called the Zen Room. McDonnell said they do not take any chances when it comes to safety: There is a special mesh fence that goes three feet down into the ground to prevent snakes from coming in.
McDonnell said she’s always been drawn to senior dogs. Many people don’t want to take on the burden of a senior dog, especially one who is sick; the care can be expensive, long-term and emotionally taxing.
“The younger dogs seem to bounce back much easier and are more readily adopted,” she said.
When it comes to euthanasia, McDonnell said they always do right by each dog, and work closely with the veterinarian to determine what is best for the animal. “It’s the quality of life, not the quantity,” she said.
While what they do is not easy, McDonnell said she and her husband enjoy it, calling it “an act of love.” They get so much back from the senior dogs, who really appreciate the love and care—and sometimes they are very funny. They have a relatively new arrival, a Cocker spaniel, who likes to take one of McDonnell’s shoes to bed and sleep with it.
“We give these dogs whatever they want—period,” McDonnell said.
The dogs usually come from shelters. The longest-tenured Barkee LaRoux resident received care and housing for five years. The McDonnells occasionally decline to take a dog, because they don’t have room, or because the dog’s health issues or physical limitations are too much for them to handle. The facility does not take younger dogs, because they don’t mesh well with the older dogs with health issues.
How a dog is introduced into the fold depends on their personality. If they are anxious, they’re isolated at first, and the whole process is gradual. If they’re ready, they’re added into the mix right away. Sadly, about 90% of the dogs Barkee LaRoux takes in have been abused.
How does she handle it when a dog dies?
“I made a vow to myself that no dog would see me cry when they are about to leave this world,” McDonnell said, explaining that she doesn’t want the dogs worrying about her sobbing as they are making their transition—and she never forgets that she has other sick senior dogs that need her love and attention.
The name of the organization, Barkee LaRoux, came from the very first dog McDonnell and her husband adopted in Southern California. Her name was Bella, and she had multiple medical issues. “She was a very sassy poodle we nicknamed Barkee LaRoux, because it sounded like a French stripper. Many of the dogs talk a lot, especially at feeding time. We thought Barkee LaRoux would be the perfect name for the organization.”
The name Barkee LaRoux came from the very first dog McDonnell and her husband adopted in Southern California. “She was a very sassy poodle we nicknamed Barkee LaRoux, because it sounded like a French stripper.”
McDonnell admitted that she does have favorites. Currently, it’s Dorothy, a terrier/chihuahua mix who likes to curl up on the couch next to her while she’s reading. Dorothy has dementia and is blind. How does one know a dog has dementia? They’re quite vacant. When the dog just stands around and clearly doesn’t know where it is, McDonnell and her husband have to start thinking seriously about euthanasia. She said quality of life has to be more than 51%, and that they always consult with a vet regarding the right time.
The greatest expense Barkee LaRoux has is veterinary bills. The nonprofit organization relies totally on donations, which can be challenging, because Barkee LaRoux has to compete with other local animal organizations for those donation dollars.
When asked about her philosophy of life, McDonnell said, “Everyone—both animals and people—deserves a good death. Leaving this world and everything you know and love is traumatic. Everyone should feel love on that journey, and that’s why I do what I do.”
McDonnell said she believes we are here to help each other. “If you see someone who’s disadvantaged, it’s incumbent upon all of us to reach out and help,” she said.
“Barkee LaRoux is my thing. I want to get the word out so more people will donate, and we can keep doing the vital work we do. We are engaged with these dogs from the moment they come into our arms until the moment they leave them—and they are in our arms when they go to heaven.”
McDonnell thinks that dogs are an excellent judge of character when it comes to humans. If a dog meets someone and is standoffish or even a bit hostile, there’s usually a good reason. She’s often had the experience of having a stranger’s dog come up and lick her hand, with the owner saying: “He never does that!”
McDonnell stated firmly: “That’s because dogs KNOW!”
For more information or to donate, visit www.barkeelaroux.org.
