While I was away visiting my family, I read accounts of how Bailey the dog and his guardian, Larry, became separated, with Bailey showing up at the northeast shelter, which is watched fairly closely by members of the Echo Park Animal Alliance. Larry is homeless, and no one had seen him. It was an awful story. Bailey's future was uncertain, and for some time no one knew what had happened to Larry, who is often seen on Glendale Avenue near Berkeley. But yesterday the two were reunited when Christine Peters retrieved Bailey from the shelter and brought him home to Larry.

In response to my questions about the reunion, Christine wrote:

Bailey and Larry are longtime Echo Park fixtures. Prior to being homeless they lived a comfortable life on McCollum Street [in Echo Park. They've been] together 13 years. Bailey has senior issues, like arthritis, ocular issues, tear ducts etc. [but] as we drove along Riverside Drive and got closer to Glendale Blvd. he started yapping. And when we got to the corner of Berkeley he lept into the arms of his crying owner. These guys are inseparable, and to imagine them both in their separate cold cells, wondering where the other might be, it really brings life's little bumps into perspective.

It was a pretty teary moment. I know some people don't believe homeless should have pets, but in these trying times, people may soon finally realize "you aren't born homeless". It happens, and kudos to the people who don't dump their pets at the shelter and keep them through thick and thin. If you go to the shelter today, it's horrifying the number of owner surrenders. People can't be bothered to deal with their pets, just dispose.

The situation began when Larry was jailed on an outstanding warrant. I've had a couple of those myself (including one for walking my dog off leash), but I also had the money to get it straightened out without arrest. Larry did not have money for bail. I don't know Larry and Bailey, at least not yet, but it was good to come home to a neighborhood that brought the two of them back together.